CVE-2019-16346 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified in ngiflib 0.4, affecting the WritePixel() function within ngiflib.c. This vulnerability arises from improper handling of deinterlacing for small images.

Understanding CVE-2019-16346

This CVE involves a heap-based buffer overflow in the WritePixel() function of ngiflib 0.4 when called from DecodeGifImg due to mishandling of deinterlacing for small images.

What is CVE-2019-16346?

This CVE refers to a specific vulnerability in ngiflib 0.4 that allows for a buffer overflow when processing small images, leading to a potential security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2019-16346

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by crashing the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-16346

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow in the WritePixel() function within ngiflib.c, triggered by improper deinterlacing handling for small images.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: ngiflib 0.4
Systems using ngiflib 0.4

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a specially designed image file to trigger the buffer overflow when processed by the vulnerable WritePixel() function.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2019-16346.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ngiflib to a patched version or apply vendor-supplied fixes.
Avoid processing untrusted image files with the vulnerable ngiflib library.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patched versions.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent buffer overflows and other vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Check for updates and patches from ngiflib or the software vendor to address the buffer overflow vulnerability.