CVE-2020-21428 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the LoadRGB function within the PluginDDS.cpp source file of the FreeImage library version 3.18.0. FreeImage is an open-source library commonly used for handling image file formats, including DDS (DirectDraw Surface) files, which are widely used in graphics applications and game development. The vulnerability arises when the LoadRGB function processes a specially crafted DDS image file, leading to a buffer overflow condition. This overflow can potentially allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system or cause other unintended impacts such as application crashes or memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow), indicating that improper bounds checking or memory handling leads to overwriting adjacent memory. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector, the attack requires local access (AV:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R), with low complexity (AC:L). The impact is limited to integrity (I:L) with no confidentiality or availability impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked in the provided data. The vulnerability was published on August 22, 2023, but was reserved since August 2020. Given the nature of FreeImage as a library, the vulnerability's impact depends on the integration context within applications that utilize FreeImage 3.18.0 for DDS image processing. Exploitation requires a user to open or process a maliciously crafted DDS file, which could be delivered via email attachments, downloads, or other file transfer mechanisms. The low CVSS score reflects the limited attack vector and impact scope, but the potential for arbitrary code execution warrants attention in environments where FreeImage is used to process untrusted image files.

For European organizations, the primary risk lies in applications or systems that incorporate FreeImage 3.18.0 for image processing, especially those handling DDS files from untrusted sources. Potential impacts include unauthorized code execution leading to system compromise, data integrity issues, or application instability. Sectors such as digital media, gaming, software development, and any enterprise using custom or third-party software relying on FreeImage could be affected. While the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, social engineering or phishing campaigns could trick users into opening malicious DDS files, increasing risk. The limited confidentiality and availability impact reduce the likelihood of data breaches or denial of service, but integrity compromises could affect software reliability and trustworthiness. Given no known exploits in the wild, the immediate threat level is low; however, organizations should remain vigilant, especially those with high exposure to DDS files or that distribute software incorporating FreeImage. The impact is more pronounced in environments where automated processing of DDS files occurs without adequate input validation or sandboxing.

1. Identify and inventory all software and systems using FreeImage 3.18.0, particularly those processing DDS image files. 2. Where possible, upgrade FreeImage to a later version if patches addressing this vulnerability become available; monitor vendor and community channels for updates. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all DDS files before processing, including file format verification and size checks to prevent malformed files from triggering the vulnerability. 4. Employ application-level sandboxing or run image processing components with least privilege to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 5. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or untrusted image files, especially DDS files, to reduce the likelihood of social engineering attacks. 6. Monitor logs and system behavior for anomalies related to image processing applications, such as crashes or unexpected memory usage. 7. Consider disabling or restricting support for DDS files in applications where this format is not required. 8. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting exploit attempts targeting buffer overflows in image processing libraries. 9. For software developers, review and harden the integration of FreeImage, applying additional bounds checking and error handling around image loading functions.