CVE-2024-25269 in libheif
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2024
libheif <= 1.17.6 contains a memory leak in the function JpegEncoder::Encode. This flaw allows an attacker to cause a denial of service attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-25269 resides within the libheif library version 1.17.6 and earlier, where a memory leak occurs in the JpegEncoder::Encode function. This memory leak represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited to perform denial of service attacks against systems relying on this library for image processing operations. The libheif library serves as a crucial component for handling heif image format decoding and encoding operations across various applications and operating systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for widespread impact.
The technical flaw manifests specifically within the JpegEncoder::Encode function which is responsible for converting heif image data into jpeg format. When processing certain image inputs, the function fails to properly release allocated memory resources, leading to gradual memory consumption over time. This memory leak occurs due to improper resource management where allocated memory blocks are not correctly deallocated after use, resulting in memory fragmentation and eventual system resource exhaustion. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory cleanup procedures within the encoding pipeline, particularly when handling malformed or specially crafted image data that triggers the problematic code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource consumption as it enables attackers to systematically exhaust system memory through repeated exploitation attempts. An attacker can craft malicious heif image files designed to trigger the memory leak in the JpegEncoder::Encode function, causing applications using libheif to consume increasing amounts of memory until system performance degrades significantly or complete system crashes occur. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in server environments where multiple requests are processed simultaneously, as the memory leak can compound rapidly and affect service availability. The vulnerability affects any application that utilizes libheif for jpeg encoding operations, including web servers, image processing applications, and mobile platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-25269 primarily focus on immediate library updates to versions that have addressed the memory leak issue. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to libheif version 1.17.7 or later where the memory leak in JpegEncoder::Encode has been resolved through proper memory management implementation. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can help prevent exploitation by rejecting malformed image files before they reach the vulnerable encoding function. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and resource monitoring can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and mitigate potential denial of service attacks targeting this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing automated memory monitoring and alerting systems to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-401 which specifically addresses improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, representing a fundamental weakness in resource management practices. The attack surface and exploitation techniques correspond to ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and denial of service through resource exhaustion. The memory leak pattern demonstrates poor coding practices that violate secure software development principles, particularly in the area of memory management and resource cleanup. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected libheif versions and implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure complete remediation across their infrastructure.