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CVE Record

CVE-2018-3868: A specially crafted TIFF image processed via the application can lead to an out-of-bounds write, overwritin...

A specially crafted TIFF image processed via the application can lead to an out-of-bounds write, overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker can deliver a TIFF image to trigger this vulnerability and gain code execution.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-3868 is a high-severity flaw in Computerinsel Photoline 20.53 for OS X. A malicious TIFF image can corrupt memory when processed by the application, potentially allowing attacker-controlled code to run after a user opens or processes the file.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted workstation risk with high impact if exploited. Prioritize teams that handle external image files, because successful exploitation could compromise a user workstation through a document-style attack path.

Technical view

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write triggered by a specially crafted TIFF image. The CVSS vector indicates network deliverability, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to environments with Computerinsel Photoline 20.53 for OS X installed and workflows that accept TIFF images from email, web downloads, shared drives, or external parties.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires a crafted TIFF to be processed by the application, so user interaction is a key condition.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are user interaction and the specific affected version. The bundle supports code execution impact but does not provide patch details, exploit-in-the-wild evidence, or broader affected-version claims.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory systems for Computerinsel Photoline 20.53 for OS X.
  • Check vendor and Talos guidance for fixed versions or official mitigations.
  • Restrict opening TIFF files from untrusted or external sources.
  • Use endpoint controls to limit risky file associations where feasible.
  • Prioritize remediation on image-processing or design workstations handling external files.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether Photoline 20.53 for OS X is present on managed endpoints.
  • Review workflows that ingest TIFF files from customers, partners, or public channels.
  • Verify installed Photoline versions against vendor or Talos advisory guidance.
  • Check endpoint telemetry for suspicious crashes during TIFF processing.
  • Document compensating controls for systems awaiting vendor-confirmed remediation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-3868 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/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
2Source 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
8.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2018-3868Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/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
TalosComputerinsel PhotolineComputerinsel Photoline 20.53 for OS XListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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