CVE-2024-28571 in FreeImage
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2024
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in open source FreeImage v.3.19.0 [r1909] allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) via the fill_input_buffer() function when reading images in JPEG format.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28571 resides within the FreeImage library version 3.19.0, specifically affecting the fill_input_buffer() function during JPEG image processing operations. This open source library serves as a critical component for image handling across numerous applications and systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective. The flaw manifests when the library attempts to read JPEG formatted images, creating a condition where insufficient input buffer validation allows for memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified as a local attack vector, meaning an attacker must already have access to the target system to exploit this weakness, though the implications remain severe for system stability and availability.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from improper bounds checking within the fill_input_buffer() function, which is responsible for managing input data streams during JPEG decoding processes. When processing malformed or specially crafted JPEG files, the function fails to properly validate the size of incoming data against allocated buffer space, resulting in memory overwrite conditions. This particular implementation flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient input validation where the library does not adequately sanitize JPEG data streams before processing, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can lead to unpredictable system behavior.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant denial of service risk for systems relying on FreeImage for image processing tasks. Local attackers can exploit this condition to crash applications that utilize the library, potentially causing widespread service disruption across platforms that depend on JPEG image handling capabilities. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially compromise system stability, especially in environments where multiple processes rely on FreeImage for image manipulation, conversion, or display functions. Organizations using FreeImage in embedded systems, web applications, or desktop software may experience complete service outages when this vulnerability is successfully exploited, making it a critical concern for system administrators and security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-28571 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FreeImage installations to version 3.19.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of applications that utilize FreeImage to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly when processing untrusted image files. Additional defensive measures include implementing input validation controls that sanitize JPEG files before processing, deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable applications, and establishing network segmentation to limit the impact of successful local exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, though in this case the exploitation occurs locally and targets memory corruption rather than network resources. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning processes to identify systems running vulnerable versions of FreeImage and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing buffer overflow exploitation attempts.