Pillow is a Python imaging library. Prior to 13.0.0, SpiderImageFile.seek() in src/PIL/SpiderImagePlugin.py reparses a later SPIDER stack frame and replaces self._size without rerunning Image._decompression_bomb_check(). A tiny file can use a safe first frame to pass Image.open() and then declare very large dimensions in a later mode F frame. Loading that frame allocates approximately four bytes per attacker-declared pixel and can consume multiple gigabytes of memory. This issue is fixed in version 13.0.0.
The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pillow | Python | * | 13.0.0 (excluding) |
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.