CVE-2024-25445 in Hugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2024
Improper handling of values in HuginBase::PTools::Transform::transform of Hugin 2022.0.0 leads to an assertion failure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-25445 represents a critical flaw in the Hugin photogrammetry software version 2022.0.0, specifically within the HuginBase::PTools::Transform::transform component. This issue manifests as improper handling of input values that results in assertion failures during the image transformation process. The vulnerability occurs when the software fails to adequately validate or process certain parameter values passed to the transformation function, leading to unexpected program behavior that can potentially disrupt the entire photogrammetric workflow.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input validation mechanisms within the HuginBase::PTools::Transform::transform method. When malformed or unexpected values are passed to this function, the software's assertion checking mechanism triggers, causing the application to terminate abruptly or behave unpredictably. This improper handling stems from a lack of comprehensive parameter validation that should occur before the transformation operations begin. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-252, which specifically addresses issues where software does not properly validate inputs leading to unexpected behavior.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users engaged in photogrammetric processing and image stitching workflows. The assertion failure can cause complete application crashes during critical image processing stages, potentially resulting in loss of work and disruption of time-sensitive projects. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input files or parameters that trigger the assertion failure, leading to denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate users from completing their photogrammetric tasks. The impact extends beyond simple crashes as it can also potentially expose underlying memory corruption issues that might be exploitable for more advanced attack vectors.
The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption attacks through service availability. In the context of photogrammetry software, this could be leveraged to disrupt collaborative workflows where multiple users rely on shared processing resources. The assertion failure mechanism could be particularly problematic in automated processing pipelines where application stability is crucial. Organizations using Hugin for professional image processing, surveying, or 3D reconstruction projects may experience significant operational disruptions when this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-25445 should prioritize immediate patching of the Hugin software to the latest available version that contains the corrected input validation logic. System administrators should implement monitoring protocols to detect unusual application termination patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Input sanitization measures should be enhanced through additional parameter validation layers that can catch malformed values before they reach the vulnerable transform function. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in image processing software and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in mathematical transformation functions that are critical to the software's core functionality.