CVE-2024-25580 in qtbase
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
An issue was discovered in gui/util/qktxhandler.cpp in Qt before 5.15.17, 6.x before 6.2.12, 6.3.x through 6.5.x before 6.5.5, and 6.6.x before 6.6.2. A buffer overflow and application crash can occur via a crafted KTX image file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-25580 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Qt graphics handling framework that affects multiple version ranges of the Qt software development toolkit. This issue specifically resides in the gui/util/qktxhandler.cpp component which processes KTX (Khronos Texture) image files used for texture data in computer graphics applications. The vulnerability manifests when the application encounters a specially crafted KTX image file that contains malformed data structures designed to trigger memory corruption during the parsing process. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and input validation within the KTX file parser, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout through carefully constructed file contents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow condition where the application fails to properly validate the size parameters of KTX file structures before attempting to copy data into fixed-size buffers. When processing KTX files, the Qt framework reads metadata describing texture dimensions, format information, and data offsets without sufficient validation of these values against the actual file boundaries. This allows an attacker to specify oversized dimensions or malformed data sections that cause the application to write beyond allocated memory regions, potentially leading to memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, representing a fundamental memory safety issue that has been addressed through proper bounds checking implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous applications that rely on Qt for graphical user interfaces and multimedia processing capabilities. Any software application that processes KTX image files through Qt's graphics handling components becomes potentially vulnerable to this attack vector, including but not limited to game engines, graphic design applications, 3D modeling software, and multimedia frameworks. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious file attachments, web-based image processing, or even supply chain compromises where compromised KTX files are integrated into legitimate software distributions. The crash behavior described in the vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to achieve denial of service conditions or potentially escalate privileges depending on the target system configuration and application permissions.
Organizations utilizing Qt-based applications must prioritize immediate mitigation through version updates to address this vulnerability. The affected versions include Qt 5.15.17, 6.2.12, and various intermediate releases within the 6.3.x through 6.5.x and 6.6.x series, making comprehensive patch management essential for all systems running vulnerable software. Security teams should implement network-based detection mechanisms to monitor for suspicious KTX file handling activities and establish strict file validation policies for image processing workflows. Additionally, application developers should review their Qt integration patterns to ensure proper error handling and memory management practices are implemented, particularly when dealing with third-party graphics file formats. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 as Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for defensive measures including application whitelisting, file extension filtering, and network segmentation to limit potential attack surface exposure.