Code execution via miscalculated DDS scan-line size
Published Aug 22, 2023 · Updated May 2, 2025
Heap buffer overflow in FreeImage 3.18.0 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted DDS image file. LoadRGB calculates the destination scan-line length from the DDS header bit depth instead of the allocated bitmap's actual bit depth, then reads pixel data past the heap buffer. A user or consuming application must process the attacker-supplied DDS content; the overwrite can crash the process or execute code in its security context.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in FreeImage 3.18.0 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted DDS image file. LoadRGB calculates the destination scan-line length from the DDS header bit depth instead of the allocated bitmap's actual bit depth, then reads pixel data past the heap buffer. A user or consuming application must process the attacker-supplied DDS content; the overwrite can crash the process or execute code in its security context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-21428
- Published
- Aug 22, 2023
- Updated
- May 2, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-120, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 2, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- heap_buffer_overflow.dds reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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