Code execution via zero-size GIF reallocation double-free
Published Oct 20, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025
Double-free in Sean Barrett stb_image 2.28 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted GIF in a multithreaded application. When layers times stride equals zero, stbi__load_gif_main passes the existing output buffer to realloc; a null return sends the same pointer to stbi__load_gif_main_outofmem, which frees it again. Exploitation requires attacker-supplied GIF data to reach stb_image in a multithreaded application; the demonstrated failure is an allocator-detected double-free.
Summary
What happened
Double-free in Sean Barrett stb_image 2.28 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted GIF in a multithreaded application. When layers times stride equals zero, stbi__load_gif_main passes the existing output buffer to realloc; a null return sends the same pointer to stbi__load_gif_main_outofmem, which frees it again. Exploitation requires attacker-supplied GIF data to reach stb_image in a multithreaded application; the demonstrated failure is an allocator-detected double-free.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-45664
- Published
- Oct 20, 2023
- Updated
- Feb 13, 2025
- Vendor
- Sean Barrett
- Product
- stb
- Classifications
- CWE-415
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 13, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=<= 2.28
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
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
- GitHub Security Lab stb_image double-free proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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