Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. A denial-of-service was found in Exiv2 version v0.28.1: an unbounded recursion can cause Exiv2 to crash by exhausting the stack. The vulnerable function, QuickTimeVideo::multipleEntriesDecoder, was new in v0.28.0, so Exiv2 versions before v0.28 are not affected. The denial-of-service is triggered when Exiv2 is used to read the metadata of a crafted video file. This bug is fixed in version v0.28.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exiv2 | Exiv2 | 0.28.0 (including) | 0.28.0 (including) |
| Exiv2 | Exiv2 | 0.28.1 (including) | 0.28.1 (including) |
| Exiv2 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
| Exiv2 | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
| Exiv2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
| Exiv2 | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:
The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.
The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.