CVE-2023-0800 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record was published by GitLab on February 13, 2023, with the CVE ID CVE-2023-0800. It involves an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in LibTIFF 4.4.0 that can lead to a denial-of-service attack via a crafted TIFF file. The vulnerability affects versions of libtiff up to and including 4.4.0.

Understanding CVE-2023-0800

The CVE-2023-0800 vulnerability is a result of an out-of-bounds write issue in the tiffcrop tool in

tools/tiffcrop.c:3502

within LibTIFF 4.4.0. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service condition on affected systems.

What is CVE-2023-0800?

CVE-2023-0800 is a security vulnerability in LibTIFF 4.4.0 that allows attackers to trigger a denial-of-service attack by exploiting an out-of-bounds write issue in the tiffcrop tool.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0800

This vulnerability can have a medium impact, with a base score of 6.8, as per the CVSS v3.1 metrics. It can lead to a high availability impact on systems running the affected versions of LibTIFF.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0800

The vulnerability in LibTIFF 4.4.0 is classified as an out-of-bounds write issue, which can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services by providing a specially crafted TIFF file.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper handling of user-supplied input in the tiffcrop tool in LibTIFF 4.4.0, potentially leading to a write operation beyond the bounds of allocated memory.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects the

libtiff

product, specifically versions up to and including 4.4.0. Users running these versions are at risk of exploitation by malicious actors.

Exploitation Mechanism

By creating a specially crafted TIFF file and leveraging the vulnerability in the tiffcrop tool, attackers can write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, resulting in a denial-of-service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-0800 and prevent potential exploitation, immediate steps should be taken by affected users to secure their systems and data.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of LibTIFF should update to the latest version where the fix for this vulnerability is available (commit 33aee127).
Organizations are advised to monitor official security advisories and apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Employ secure coding practices to prevent vulnerabilities like out-of-bounds writes in software development.
Regularly update and patch software to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by LibTIFF to address vulnerabilities.
Establish a robust patch management process to deploy updates efficiently across all relevant systems.