CVE-2025-9165 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2025
A flaw has been found in LibTIFF 4.7.0. This affects the function _TIFFmallocExt/_TIFFCheckRealloc/TIFFHashSetNew/InitCCITTFax3 of the file tools/tiffcmp.c of the component tiffcmp. Executing manipulation can lead to memory leak. The attack is restricted to local execution. The exploit has been published and may be used. This patch is called ed141286a37f6e5ddafb5069347ff5d587e7a4e0. It is best practice to apply a patch to resolve this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-9165 represents a memory management flaw within LibTIFF version 4.7.0, specifically affecting the tiffcmp utility component. This issue manifests in the tools/tiffcmp.c file where multiple functions including _TIFFmallocExt, _TIFFCheckRealloc, TIFFHashSetNew, and InitCCITTFax3 exhibit problematic memory handling behaviors. The flaw constitutes a memory leak vulnerability that can be exploited through local execution, making it particularly concerning for systems where local privilege escalation or resource exhaustion attacks are possible. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple memory consumption as it can lead to system instability, performance degradation, and potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploitation techniques. The fact that a working exploit has been published and is available for use significantly elevates the risk profile of this vulnerability, as it removes the barrier to entry for potential attackers who may not require advanced technical skills to leverage the flaw.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory allocation and deallocation patterns within the affected functions. When these functions process TIFF image data through the tiffcmp utility, they fail to properly manage memory resources, leading to allocated memory blocks that are not correctly freed or reused. This memory leak can accumulate over time, particularly when the utility is used repeatedly or with large datasets, potentially exhausting available memory resources and causing application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability specifically impacts the TIFF comparison functionality where the utility processes and compares image files, making it relevant to any system that utilizes tiffcmp for image verification or batch processing operations. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices and highlights the importance of proper memory management in C-based applications, particularly those handling binary data formats like TIFF images.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on LibTIFF for image processing tasks, especially in environments where tiffcmp is frequently used for quality control, batch processing, or automated image verification workflows. Local exploitation capabilities mean that attackers with access to the system can leverage this vulnerability to consume excessive memory resources, potentially leading to denial of service conditions that affect legitimate system operations. The published exploit availability increases the probability of successful attacks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local access might be gained through various attack vectors such as compromised user accounts, insider threats, or misconfigured system permissions. Organizations using LibTIFF components in production environments should consider the potential for cascading effects, as memory leaks in core libraries can impact multiple applications that depend on the same underlying libraries.
The recommended mitigation strategy centers on applying the provided patch identified by the commit hash ed141286a37f6e5ddafb5069347ff5d587e7a4e0, which addresses the specific memory management issues within the affected functions. This patch should be applied immediately to all systems running LibTIFF 4.7.0, particularly those where tiffcmp functionality is actively used or where the utility is accessible to local users. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as consider restricting local execution privileges where possible. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected LibTIFF versions and prioritize patch deployment based on risk exposure and system criticality. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and resource limiting mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses memory leak issues, and represents a potential vector for attacks categorized under the ATT&CK technique of privilege escalation through resource exhaustion.