CVE-2023-52355 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the libtiff library, specifically related to an out-of-memory flaw triggered by processing crafted TIFF files. The vulnerability arises when the TIFFRasterScanlineSize64() API is called with a specially crafted TIFF input file smaller than 379 KB. This causes an out-of-bounds write condition, which can lead to a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the application or causing it to become unresponsive. The flaw is exploitable remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, as the crafted TIFF file can be delivered over a network to any service or application that processes TIFF images using libtiff. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects the high impact on availability (denial of service) with no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The vulnerability does not appear to have known exploits in the wild yet, and no patches or vendor-specific mitigations have been explicitly referenced in the provided data. LibTIFF is a widely used open-source library for reading and writing TIFF image files, integrated into many image processing tools, document viewers, and software that handle image formats. Given the ubiquity of TIFF in professional imaging, publishing, and document management workflows, this vulnerability could affect a broad range of applications and services that rely on libtiff for TIFF image handling.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2023-52355 is the potential for denial of service attacks against systems that process TIFF images using libtiff. This could disrupt critical business operations, especially in sectors heavily reliant on image processing such as publishing, media, healthcare (medical imaging), government document management, and manufacturing (CAD and imaging tools). The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to crash servers, workstations, or services that automatically process TIFF files, leading to service outages, operational delays, and potential loss of productivity. While the vulnerability does not allow data theft or code execution, the denial of service could be leveraged as part of a larger attack chain or to cause reputational damage. European organizations with automated workflows ingesting TIFF files from external sources or public-facing services are particularly at risk. The lack of authentication or user interaction requirements increases the attack surface, making it easier for attackers to exploit this flaw remotely. Additionally, since libtiff is embedded in many third-party applications, organizations may face challenges identifying all affected systems, increasing the risk of unnoticed exposure.

1. Inventory and Identify: Conduct a thorough inventory of all software and services that utilize libtiff for TIFF image processing. This includes image viewers, document management systems, content management platforms, and any custom applications. 2. Apply Updates: Monitor official libtiff repositories and vendor advisories for patches addressing CVE-2023-52355. Apply updates promptly once available. 3. Input Validation and Filtering: Implement strict validation and filtering of TIFF files received from untrusted or external sources. Reject or sandbox TIFF files that do not meet expected size or format criteria to prevent processing of crafted inputs. 4. Network Controls: Restrict exposure of services that process TIFF files to trusted networks or authenticated users where possible, reducing the risk of remote exploitation. 5. Monitoring and Logging: Enhance monitoring of applications processing TIFF files to detect abnormal crashes or service disruptions indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Use Alternative Libraries: Where feasible, consider using alternative, actively maintained image processing libraries with no known vulnerabilities or with better security track records. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Prepare incident response plans to quickly address denial of service incidents related to TIFF processing, including fallback procedures and communication plans.