CVE-2021-34552

Pillow through 8.2.0 and PIL (aka Python Imaging Library) through 1.1.7 allow an attacker to pass controlled parameters directly into a convert function to…

published July 13, 2021

CVSS
—
EPSS
3%
Percentile
88.0
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A crafty parameter mishap lets an attacker trigger a buffer overflow in Pillow and PIL! It's like a recipe calling for a pinch of salt but ending up with a whole bag — chaos ensues! Think of it as a restaurant kitchen where a chef misreads the order and adds too much of a key ingredient. The dish overflows, causing a mess that could stop service, just like this vulnerability can crash your application by mishandling data inputs. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to manipulate the way data is processed, potentially crashing the application. This could lead to service disruptions, and while the severity is currently known as 'unknown', it's always best to be cautious with buffer overflows!

Put simply

Think of it as a restaurant kitchen where a chef misreads the order and adds too much of a key ingredient. The dish overflows, causing a mess that could stop service, just like this vulnerability can crash your application by mishandling data inputs. This vulnerability arises from the Pillow library (up to version 8.2.0) and PIL (up to 1.1.7) allowing controlled parameters to be passed directly into the convert function, resulting in a buffer overflow in Convert.c. This oversight can be exploited if not addressed properly.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to manipulate the way data is processed, potentially crashing the application. This could lead to service disruptions, and while the severity is currently known as 'unknown', it's always best to be cautious with buffer overflows! To secure your application, update Pillow to version 8.2.1 or later, which addresses this issue. If you're using PIL, consider transitioning to Pillow for ongoing support and updates. Always audit your libraries for vulnerabilities! You've got this! Stay ahead of the game by patching immediately and keeping your codebase secure! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.03188 · 88.0th percentile
Published
2021-07-13T00:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 JUL 00:00Z
    Pillow through 8.2.0 and PIL (aka Python Imaging Library) through 1.1.7 allow an attacker to pass controlled parameters directly into a convert function to…
    cvelistv5