CVE-2025-8176 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in the LibTIFF library versions 4.0 through 4.7.0, specifically within the get_histogram function located in the tools/tiffmedian.c source file. LibTIFF is a widely used open-source library for reading and writing TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files, which are common in various imaging applications and software. The vulnerability arises when the function improperly manages memory, leading to a use-after-free condition. This means that after a memory region is freed, the program continues to use that memory, potentially leading to undefined behavior such as crashes, data corruption, or execution of arbitrary code. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (PR:L) and does not require user interaction (UI:N). The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and no authentication is needed beyond local access. The CVSS v4.0 score is 4.8, categorizing it as a medium severity issue. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L). Although the exploit has been publicly disclosed, there are no known exploits actively used in the wild at this time. A patch identified by commit fe10872e53efba9cc36c66ac4ab3b41a839d5172 has been released to address the issue. Since the vulnerability requires local access, exploitation scenarios typically involve an attacker having some form of access to the affected system, such as through a compromised user account or local code execution capabilities. The vulnerability could be leveraged to escalate privileges or cause denial of service by crashing applications that process TIFF images using the vulnerable LibTIFF versions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-8176 depends largely on the extent to which LibTIFF is used within their software stacks, particularly in imaging, document processing, or digital asset management systems. Organizations in sectors such as media, publishing, healthcare (medical imaging), and government agencies handling large volumes of TIFF images could be affected. The vulnerability's local access requirement limits remote exploitation, reducing the risk of widespread remote attacks. However, insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds on internal systems could exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges or disrupt services. The use-after-free condition could lead to application crashes, potentially causing denial of service or enabling further exploitation chains. Given the medium severity and the limited scope of impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, the threat is moderate but should not be ignored, especially in environments where TIFF image processing is critical. Failure to patch could expose organizations to stability issues or targeted attacks by adversaries with local access.

European organizations should prioritize applying the official patch identified by commit fe10872e53efba9cc36c66ac4ab3b41a839d5172 to all affected LibTIFF versions (4.0 through 4.7.0). Beyond patching, organizations should: 1) Audit and inventory all software and systems that utilize LibTIFF to ensure no vulnerable versions remain in use, including embedded systems and third-party applications. 2) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems processing TIFF images to limit local access to trusted users only. 3) Employ application whitelisting and integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications or attempts to exploit the vulnerability. 4) Conduct regular security training to raise awareness about the risks of local exploitation and insider threats. 5) Use sandboxing or containerization for applications handling untrusted TIFF files to contain potential exploitation impacts. 6) Monitor system logs and application behavior for anomalies indicative of use-after-free exploitation attempts or crashes related to TIFF processing. These targeted measures, combined with timely patching, will reduce the risk and potential impact of this vulnerability.