CVE-2024-22919 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in swftools version 0.9.2, specifically involving a global buffer overflow in the function parseExpression located in swftools/src/swfc.c at line 2587. Swftools is a collection of utilities for working with Adobe Flash files (SWF). The vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking when parsing expressions, leading to a global buffer overflow (CWE-120). This type of vulnerability allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, denial of service, or system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reveals that the attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:R) is necessary. The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). No patches or vendor information are currently available, and no known exploits in the wild have been reported. The vulnerability is reserved and published recently (January 2024). Given the nature of swftools as a utility for SWF file manipulation, exploitation would likely require a user to open or process a crafted SWF file locally, triggering the overflow in parseExpression. This can lead to execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the tool or cause application crashes, impacting system stability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-22919 depends on the usage of swftools within their environments. Organizations involved in multimedia processing, legacy Flash content management, or digital forensics may use swftools or derivatives. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code locally, potentially leading to system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. Since the attack requires local access and user interaction, the risk is higher in environments where untrusted SWF files are processed or where users might be tricked into opening malicious files. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive data could be exposed or corrupted, and critical systems could be destabilized. Additionally, if swftools is integrated into automated workflows or pipelines, exploitation could propagate further damage. Although no known exploits exist yet, the presence of a high-severity buffer overflow warrants proactive mitigation to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediately audit all systems and workflows to identify any use of swftools 0.9.2 or related utilities. 2. Restrict the processing of untrusted SWF files, especially from external or unknown sources. 3. Implement strict user training and awareness to avoid opening suspicious SWF files, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 4. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing for tools that handle SWF files to contain potential exploits. 5. Monitor for updates or patches from the swftools community or maintainers; apply them promptly once available. 6. Consider replacing swftools with alternative, actively maintained tools that do not have known vulnerabilities. 7. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior related to buffer overflow exploitation. 8. For environments where swftools is critical, conduct code reviews or apply custom patches to fix the buffer overflow if feasible. 9. Maintain strict access controls and least privilege principles to limit the impact of any local exploitation.