Denial of Service Vulnerability in Pillow Package Due to Crafted Block Size
Summary
CVE-2014-3589: PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py in Python Imaging Library (PIL) and Pillow before 2.3.2 and 2.5.x before 2.5.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted block size. Affects pillow versions < 2.5.3-1. Fixed in 2.5.3-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Pillow is a widely-used Python Imaging Library that provides extensive capabilities for opening, manipulating, and saving various image file formats. It is an essential tool for developers working with images in Python applications. However, certain versions of Pillow are vulnerable to a denial of service attack, which can be exploited through specially crafted image files, leading to application instability.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2014-3589, resides in the PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py module of the Pillow library. It allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service by sending a crafted block size within an image file. This can result in excessive resource consumption, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. The issue affects versions of Pillow prior to 2.5.3-1, making it critical for users to update their installations to mitigate potential risks.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.5.3-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade pillowTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate upgrading is not feasible, consider implementing input validation to filter out potentially malicious image files before processing them. This can help mitigate the risk of denial of service attacks.
Conclusion
CVE-2014-3589 is a critical vulnerability in the Pillow library that can lead to denial of service attacks. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest version to protect their applications. Additionally, using tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for pillow →
FAQ
CVE-2014-3589 is a vulnerability in the Pillow library that allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted image files.
Versions of Pillow before 2.5.3-1 are affected by this vulnerability.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to denial of service, causing applications to crash or become unresponsive.
Yes, implementing input validation to filter out potentially malicious image files can help mitigate the risk.
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