USN-46-1: TIFF library vulnerability

22 December 2004

TIFF library vulnerability

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Releases

Details

A buffer overflow was discovered in the TIFF library. A TIFF file
includes a value indicating the number of "directory entry" header
fields contained in the file. If this value is -1, an invalid memory
allocation was performed. A malicious image could be constructed
which, when decoded, would have resulted in execution of arbitrary
code with the privileges of the process using the library.

Since this library is used in many applications like "ghostscript" and
the "CUPS" printing system, this vulnerability may lead to remotely
induced privilege escalation.

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

Learn more about Ubuntu Pro

Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 4.10
  • libtiff4 -

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

References