CVE-2019-5087 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An integer overflow vulnerability in xcftools 1.0.7 can lead to memory corruption and potential execution of arbitrary code when processing specially crafted XCF files.

Understanding CVE-2019-5087

This CVE involves an integer overflow vulnerability in xcftools 1.0.7 that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code.

What is CVE-2019-5087?

The flattenIncrementally function in the xcf2png and xcf2pnm binaries of xcftools 1.0.7 has an integer overflow vulnerability. This flaw occurs during the calculation of the allocation size for a row, potentially leading to memory corruption and the execution of arbitrary code.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5087

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level. It can result in high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5087

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an integer overflow in the flattenIncrementally function of xcftools 1.0.7, specifically in the xcf2png and xcf2pnm binaries. This flaw can be exploited to corrupt memory and potentially execute arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: xcftools
Version: xcftools 1.0.7

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to trick a user into opening a maliciously crafted XCF file, triggering the integer overflow and potentially leading to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5087 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates and patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Avoid opening XCF files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Implement file type and content validation mechanisms to detect malicious files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Educate users about safe browsing habits and the risks associated with opening files from untrusted sources.

Patching and Updates

Check for security advisories and updates from the vendor regularly.
Apply patches and updates as soon as they are available to mitigate the risk of exploitation.