CVE-2020-36280 : What You Need to Know

Leptonica before 1.80.0 allows a heap-based buffer over-read in pixReadFromTiffStream, related to tiffio.c.

Understanding CVE-2020-36280

Leptonica before version 1.80.0 is susceptible to a specific vulnerability that can lead to a heap-based buffer over-read.

What is CVE-2020-36280?

CVE-2020-36280 is a vulnerability found in Leptonica, a widely used image processing library, specifically in the function pixReadFromTiffStream in the tiffio.c file.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36280

This vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to read beyond the allocated memory, leading to a security breach or a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36280

Leptonica before version 1.80.0 is affected by a heap-based buffer over-read vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the pixReadFromTiffStream function in the tiffio.c file of Leptonica.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: All versions before 1.80.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating certain TIFF image files to trigger the heap-based buffer over-read.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2020-36280.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Leptonica to version 1.80.0 or later to eliminate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual activities that might indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent buffer over-read vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by Leptonica.