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CVE Record

CVE-2018-3838: An exploitable information vulnerability exists in the XCF image rendering functionality of Simple DirectMe...

An exploitable information vulnerability exists in the XCF image rendering functionality of Simple DirectMedia Layer SDL2_image-2.0.2. A specially crafted XCF image can cause an out-of-bounds read on the heap, resulting in information disclosure. An attacker can display a specially crafted image to trigger this vulnerability.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-3838 can leak memory from software that renders XCF images with SDL2_image 2.0.2. An attacker must get a user or service to display a specially crafted image. The issue is moderate urgency: confidentiality impact is high, but exploitation requires user interaction and high attack complexity.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on systems that accept or preview external image files. This is not a broad remote takeover issue from the provided evidence, but memory disclosure can expose sensitive data in vulnerable rendering contexts.

Technical view

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds heap read in SDL2_image 2.0.2 XCF rendering. A crafted XCF image can trigger information disclosure when rendered. The CVSS 3.0 vector is AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. The provided sources do not indicate integrity or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where SDL2_image 2.0.2 is embedded in image viewers, games, media tools, or services that render user-supplied XCF files. Debian and Gentoo advisories indicate affected distribution packages existed. Systems not processing XCF images through SDL2_image are less likely exposed.

Exploitation context

The bundle says an attacker can display a specially crafted image to trigger the issue. No CISA KEV listing is provided, and the supplied sources do not claim active exploitation. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed rather than active.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are UI requirement, high complexity, and confidentiality-only impact in the supplied CVSS vector. Validate exposure by dependency and file-flow analysis, not by attempting weaponized image handling. Evidence is sufficient for affected version and class, but incomplete on real-world exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor or distribution updates for SDL2_image packages.
  • Check Debian and Gentoo advisories for affected package versions.
  • Avoid rendering untrusted XCF files until updated.
  • Disable XCF upload or preview paths where feasible.
  • Check upstream or vendor guidance before assuming backport status.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory applications and services using SDL2_image.
  • Confirm whether SDL2_image 2.0.2 is present.
  • Identify workflows that render user-supplied XCF images.
  • Verify distribution package fixes are installed.
  • Review image processing logs for unexpected XCF handling.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

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-2018-3838 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
5Source 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
5.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N1.63.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2018-3838Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
Cisco Systems, Inc.Simple DirectMediaSimple DirectMedia Layer SDL2_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.