CVE-2023-47996 is an integer overflow vulnerability identified in the function jpeg_read_exif_dir within the Exif.cpp source file of FreeImage version 3.18.0. FreeImage is an open-source library widely used for handling image formats, including reading and writing EXIF metadata embedded in JPEG files. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of integer values when parsing EXIF directories, which can lead to an integer overflow condition. This overflow can cause the program to miscalculate buffer sizes or offsets, potentially leading to memory corruption. Exploiting this flaw allows an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the application or service that uses the vulnerable FreeImage library. The vulnerability does not directly lead to confidentiality or integrity breaches but impacts availability by causing application crashes. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:H) with no confidentiality or integrity impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor advisories have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound).

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability primarily concerns any software or services that incorporate FreeImage 3.18.0 for image processing, especially those that handle user-supplied JPEG images with EXIF metadata. Potential targets include web applications, content management systems, digital asset management platforms, and any internal tools processing images. An attacker could craft malicious JPEG files that trigger the integer overflow, causing the affected application to crash and resulting in denial of service. This could disrupt business operations, degrade user experience, or cause temporary outages. While the vulnerability does not allow data theft or code execution, the availability impact can be significant in environments where image processing is critical. Additionally, denial of service conditions can be leveraged as part of larger multi-vector attacks. Since exploitation requires user interaction (e.g., opening or processing a malicious image), the risk is somewhat mitigated but still relevant, especially in environments where images are uploaded or processed automatically. Organizations in sectors such as media, publishing, e-commerce, and government services that rely on image processing libraries should be particularly vigilant.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first identify all instances where FreeImage 3.18.0 is used within their software stack, including third-party applications and internal tools. Since no official patch is currently linked, organizations should monitor FreeImage project repositories and security advisories for updates or patches addressing CVE-2023-47996. In the interim, applying strict input validation and sanitization on all incoming JPEG files can reduce risk. This includes rejecting or quarantining images with suspicious or malformed EXIF metadata. Employing runtime protections such as sandboxing image processing components or running them with least privilege can limit the impact of crashes. Organizations should also implement robust monitoring to detect abnormal application crashes or service disruptions potentially related to this vulnerability. Where feasible, consider replacing or upgrading to alternative image processing libraries that do not exhibit this vulnerability. Finally, educating users and administrators about the risks of processing untrusted image files and enforcing policies to limit exposure can further reduce attack surface.