CVE-2024-28583

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-28583 is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the open-source FreeImage library, version 3.19.0 [r1909]. The flaw resides in the readLine() function during the parsing of XPM (X PixMap) image files. A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability to trigger a buffer overflow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is currently unpatched, and no official fix has been released by the vendor. The EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating low exploitation activity in the wild, but the risk remains significant for systems that process untrusted XPM images.

Supply Chain & Package Security

FreeImage is a widely used open-source image library integrated into many applications and systems. This vulnerability introduces a supply chain risk, as any software that bundles FreeImage version 3.19.0 [r1909] and processes XPM images is potentially affected. Organizations should audit their software dependencies for this specific version and consider alternative image parsing libraries or implement strict input validation until a patch is available.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

The CVSS score is listed as 0.0, which is likely a placeholder or unassigned. Based on the vulnerability characteristics, a reasonable CVSS v3.1 vector would be:

• Attack Vector (AV): Local (L) – Requires local access to trigger.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – No special conditions.
• Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – No privileges needed.
• User Interaction (UI): Required (R) – User must open a malicious XPM file.
• Scope (S): Unchanged (U) – Affects only the vulnerable component.
• Confidentiality (C): High (H) – Potential for arbitrary code execution.
• Integrity (I): High (H) – Code execution can modify data.
• Availability (A): High (H) – Crash or resource exhaustion.

Estimated CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Estimated Base Score: 7.8 (High)

Threat Level: High. Although local access is required, the ability to execute arbitrary code makes this a critical risk for environments where users process untrusted XPM files.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a classic buffer overflow in the readLine() function of FreeImage's XPM parser. XPM files are text-based image formats that store pixel data as strings. The readLine() function is responsible for reading lines from the XPM file into a fixed-size buffer without proper bounds checking.

Root Cause: The readLine() function does not validate the length of the input line before copying it into a stack-allocated buffer. An attacker can craft an XPM file with an excessively long line, causing the buffer to overflow and overwrite adjacent memory, including the return address.

Attack Vector: A local attacker crafts a malicious XPM file with a specially crafted line that exceeds the buffer size. When a user or application opens this file using FreeImage, the overflow occurs, potentially allowing the attacker to hijack control flow and execute arbitrary code.

Impact: Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the application using FreeImage. This could result in data theft, system compromise, or further lateral movement.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, the vulnerable code is the readLine() function in FreeImage version 3.19.0 [r1909]. The function likely uses a fixed-size buffer (e.g., char buffer[256]) and copies input without length checks.

Vulnerable Code (Conceptual):

void readLine(FILE *file, char *buffer) {
    char line[256];
    fgets(line, sizeof(line), file);
    strcpy(buffer, line); // No bounds checking
}

Patched Code (Conceptual):

void readLine(FILE *file, char *buffer, size_t buffer_size) {
    char line[256];
    if (fgets(line, sizeof(line), file) != NULL) {
        strncpy(buffer, line, buffer_size - 1);
        buffer[buffer_size - 1] = '\0';
    }
}

The patched version would use strncpy with a size limit and ensure null-termination.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Lab Setup:

• OS: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
• FreeImage Version: 3.19.0 [r1909] (compiled from source)
• Tools: gdb, python3, metasploit (optional)

Exploit Steps:

1. Craft Malicious XPM File: Create an XPM file with an overly long line in the color table or pixel data section.
2. Trigger Overflow: Open the file using a FreeImage-based application (e.g., display or custom tool).
3. Control EIP: Overwrite the return address with a controlled value.
4. Execute Shellcode: Use a ROP chain or direct shellcode injection to gain a shell.

Example Malicious XPM (Conceptual):

/* XPM */
static char *malicious_xpm[] = {
"1 1 1 1",
"a c #FFFFFF",
"A" + "A"*1000 // Overflow line
};

Note: No public exploit code is available. This is a conceptual example.

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

Detection:

• Monitor for processes that crash with stack-based buffer overflow patterns.
• Use file integrity monitoring to detect malicious XPM files.
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior.

Defense:

• Restrict execution of applications that use FreeImage to process untrusted XPM files.
• Implement input validation and sandboxing for image parsing.
• Use address space layout randomization (ASLR) and data execution prevention (DEP) to mitigate exploitation.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Hashes: (None available, but monitor for XPM files with unusually long lines)
• Process Names: Applications using FreeImage (e.g., display, gimp, custom tools)
• Network Signatures: None (local vulnerability)
• Behavioral: Unexpected crashes in image processing applications, memory corruption errors.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2024_28583_XPM_Overflow {
    meta:
        description = "Detects malicious XPM files exploiting CVE-2024-28583"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2024-28583"
    strings:
        $xpm_header = "/* XPM */"
        $long_line = /.{512,}/ // Lines longer than 512 bytes
    condition:
        $xpm_header and #long_line > 0
}

Sigma Rule

title: Potential Exploitation of CVE-2024-28583 via XPM File
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects processes crashing due to buffer overflow in FreeImage XPM parsing
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\display.exe'  # Example application
        CommandLine|contains: '.xpm'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate large XPM files
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert tcp any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2024-28583 XPM Buffer Overflow Attempt"; flow:to_client; file_data; content:"/* XPM */"; within:100; content:"|00|"; distance:0; byte_test:1,>,512,0; classtype:attempted-admin; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable XPM Support: If possible, disable XPM image parsing in applications using FreeImage.
2. Input Validation: Implement strict input validation for XPM files, rejecting files with lines exceeding a safe length (e.g., 256 bytes).
3. Sandboxing: Run image processing in a sandboxed environment with limited privileges.

Long-Term Fix:

• Patch: Await an official patch from the FreeImage project. Monitor the FreeImage GitHub repository for updates.
• Alternative Libraries: Consider migrating to more actively maintained image libraries (e.g., libvips, ImageMagick) that have better security practices.

Workaround:

• Use a wrapper that pre-processes XPM files and truncates or rejects overly long lines before passing them to FreeImage.

Valters IT