Description
The t2p_read_tiff_init function in tiff2pdf (tools/tiff2pdf.c) in LibTIFF 4.0.2 and earlier does not properly initialize the T2P context struct pointer in certain error conditions, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted TIFF image that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | tiff | 4.0.2-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | tiff | 4.0.2-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | tiff | 4.0.2-2 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | tiff | 3.9.4-5+squeeze5 | DSA-2552-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | libtiff +2 | 3.9.4-9.el6_3 | RHSA-2012:1590 |
| RHEL 5 | libtiff +1 | 3.8.2-18.el5_8 | RHSA-2012:1590 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | tiff | 4.0.7-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10554-1 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2012:1590 Red Hat Security Advisory: libtiff security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2552-1 tiff - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10554-1 libtiff-devel-32bit-4.0.7-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=837577
- openSUSE-SU-2012:0955 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120719 tiff2pdf: Heap-based buffer overflow due to improper initialization of T2P context struct pointer mailing-list
- http://libjpeg-turbo.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/libjpeg-turbo?view=revision&revision=830
- 54601 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20120719 Re: tiff2pdf: Heap-based buffer overflow due to improper initialization of T2P context struct pointer mailing-list
- DSA-2552 vendor-advisory
- 49938 third-party-advisory
- 50007 third-party-advisory
- USN-1511-1 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201209-02 vendor-advisory
- 84090 vdb-entry
- libtiff-t2preadtiffinit-bo(77088) vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/attachment.cgi?id=596457
- MDVSA-2012:127 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2012:1590 vendor-advisory
- http://www.xerox.com/download/security/security-bulletin/16287-4d6b7b0c81f7b/cert_XRX13-003_v1.0.pdf
- 50726 third-party-advisory