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CVE Record

CVE-2017-14449: A double-Free vulnerability exists in the XCF image rendering functionality of SDL2_image-2.0.2.

A double-Free vulnerability exists in the XCF image rendering functionality of SDL2_image-2.0.2. A specially crafted XCF image can cause a Double-Free situation to occur. An attacker can display a specially crafted image to trigger this vulnerability.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

SDL2_image 2.0.2 can mishandle a malicious XCF image and free memory twice. An exposed business risk exists where applications, services, or user workflows render untrusted XCF files. The source bundle does not show active exploitation, but the CVSS impact is high across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation where untrusted images are processed automatically or by high-value users. Lower priority may be acceptable where SDL2_image is absent, newer than the affected version, or not reachable through XCF rendering workflows.

Technical view

CVE-2017-14449 is a double-free in SDL2_image 2.0.2 XCF image rendering. The CVSS vector is network-adjacent in delivery, high attack complexity, no privileges, and user interaction required. A crafted XCF image triggers the vulnerable parsing/rendering path. The bundle identifies Debian, Gentoo, and Talos references, but no KEV listing.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in software, games, media tools, web services, or pipelines that include SDL2_image 2.0.2 and render XCF images from users, partners, or external content sources.

Exploitation context

The provided evidence supports crafted-file triggering, not confirmed exploitation in the wild. User interaction is required by CVSS. Treat internet-facing upload, preview, thumbnailing, or asset-ingestion workflows as higher concern if they process XCF images.

Researcher notes

Evidence is specific to SDL2_image 2.0.2 XCF rendering. The source bundle does not provide exploit status, fixed upstream versions, or detailed remediation commands. Avoid broadening scope to all SDL versions or all image formats without additional vendor evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory applications and systems using SDL2_image 2.0.2.
  • Apply relevant vendor or distribution security updates for SDL2_image.
  • Follow Debian DSA-4177 and Gentoo GLSA-201903-17 where applicable.
  • Restrict or disable untrusted XCF rendering until patched.
  • Review image-processing services for sandboxing and least privilege.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed SDL2_image versions across endpoints, servers, and build images.
  • Identify workflows that accept or render XCF images.
  • Verify patched packages are installed from vendor or distribution advisories.
  • Check security advisories for application-bundled SDL2_image copies.
  • Confirm no unsupported static builds still include SDL2_image 2.0.2.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2017-14449 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.65.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2017-14449Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Sam Lantinga and Mattias EngdegårdSimple DirectMedia LayerSDL2_image 2.0.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.