CVE-2024-52333 in DCMTK
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2025
An improper array index validation vulnerability exists in the determineMinMax functionality of OFFIS DCMTK 3.6.8. A specially crafted DICOM file can lead to an out-of-bounds write. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-52333 represents a critical improper array index validation flaw within the OFFIS DCMTK 3.6.8 library, specifically affecting the determineMinMax functionality. This issue resides in the medical imaging software ecosystem where DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) files are processed and analyzed. The OFFIS DCMTK library serves as a foundational component for medical imaging applications, handling the parsing and manipulation of DICOM data structures that are essential for radiological imaging workflows in healthcare environments. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes specially crafted DICOM files that contain malformed index references within their data structures, potentially leading to memory corruption issues that could compromise system integrity.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking within the determineMinMax function which is responsible for calculating minimum and maximum values from medical image data arrays. When processing malicious DICOM files, the function fails to validate array indices against the actual bounds of allocated memory regions, creating opportunities for out-of-bounds write operations. This validation failure allows attackers to manipulate the index values used to access array elements, potentially writing data beyond the intended memory boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as "Improper Validation of Array Index" and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited through careful manipulation of input data structures. The attack vector requires an adversary to craft a malicious DICOM file with specific index values that will cause the library to access memory locations outside the valid array boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially compromise the integrity of medical imaging workflows and patient data processing systems. Healthcare organizations relying on OFFIS DCMTK for their medical imaging infrastructure face significant risks, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability to disrupt critical imaging services or potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive patient information. The vulnerability affects systems that process DICOM files from various sources including medical imaging devices, PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems), and radiology workstations. When exploited, the out-of-bounds write could result in denial of service conditions, data corruption, or more severe consequences depending on the execution environment and memory layout. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a vulnerability exploitation technique under the T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter tactics, as the malicious DICOM file serves as the initial attack vector for system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-52333 should prioritize immediate patching of affected OFFIS DCMTK installations to version 3.6.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the array index validation issue. Organizations should implement strict input validation procedures for all DICOM files processed through their systems, including mandatory file integrity checks and schema validation. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of systems that process DICOM data to trusted sources only. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in medical imaging system activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date medical imaging software components and implementing robust security practices for healthcare information systems. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify malicious DICOM file patterns and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of medical imaging environments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the healthcare IT infrastructure.