Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Canvas Draw 4.0.0 can be compromised if a user opens a malicious PCX image. The bug is in image parsing and can let an attacker corrupt memory and potentially run code. The business risk is workstation compromise through a user-assisted file-opening scenario, not a proven active campaign from the supplied sources.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority where Canvas Draw 4.0.0 is present, especially on workstations handling external images. The issue enables potential code execution, but requires user interaction and has no supplied evidence of active exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2018-3871 is a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in PCX parsing in ACD Systems Canvas Draw 4.0.0. CVSS v3.0 is 8.8: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Sources describe arbitrary data overwrite and code execution from a crafted PCX image. It is distinct from CVE-2018-3870.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments with Canvas Draw 4.0.0 installed and workflows where users may receive or open PCX images. Systems without this product/version, or without PCX handling through Canvas Draw, are not indicated as affected by the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The available sources describe a crafted PCX image delivered to a user and opened in the application. The bundle says this CVE is not in KEV, and no supplied source states active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The source bundle provides affected product, version, CWE, CVSS vector, and Talos reference, but does not provide a confirmed fixed version or in-the-wild exploitation evidence. Avoid expanding scope beyond Canvas Draw 4.0.0 without additional vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Canvas Draw installations and identify version 4.0.0.
- Check ACD Systems or Talos guidance for vendor fix status before upgrading.
- Restrict opening PCX files from untrusted or external sources.
- Apply endpoint controls to quarantine suspicious image attachments where feasible.
- Prioritize replacement or isolation if vendor remediation is unavailable.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Canvas Draw 4.0.0 exists on managed endpoints.
- Review file association and workflow exposure for PCX images.
- Check email, web, and endpoint telemetry for PCX files opened by Canvas Draw.
- Verify users handling external image files have compensating controls in place.
- Document whether vendor guidance identifies a fixed version or workaround.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution 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 lookupCVE-2018-3871 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2018-0553CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.