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CVE Record

CVE-2018-3886: A memory corruption vulnerability exists in the PCX-parsing functionality of Computerinsel Photoline 20.53.

A memory corruption vulnerability exists in the PCX-parsing functionality of Computerinsel Photoline 20.53. A specially crafted PCX image processed via the application can lead to an out-of-bounds write, overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker can deliver a PCX 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-2018-3886 is a high-severity flaw in Computerinsel PhotoLine 20.53 for OS X. Opening a malicious PCX image can corrupt memory and may let an attacker run code on the affected workstation. Business risk is highest for users who receive or process image files from outside parties.

Executive priority

Prioritize if the organization has design, media, or operations staff using PhotoLine on macOS. For most environments, first validate inventory because the affected product and version are narrow, but code execution impact makes confirmed exposure important.

Technical view

The issue is an out-of-bounds write in PhotoLine’s PCX parser. Talos reports that a specially crafted PCX file can overwrite arbitrary data and lead to code execution. The CVSS 3.0 score is 8.8 with no privileges required, low complexity, and required user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Computerinsel PhotoLine 20.53 for OS X, especially systems used to open PCX images from email, downloads, clients, or shared media workflows.

Exploitation context

The sources describe file-based exploitation requiring the vulnerable application to process a crafted PCX image. The provided bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The advisory attributes the flaw to PCX parsing and describes arbitrary overwrite leading to code execution. No CWE is listed in the provided CVE bundle. Patch details are not included in the supplied sources, so remediation should be verified against vendor guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify and remove or update PhotoLine 20.53 for OS X where present.
  • Check Computerinsel or vendor guidance for patched versions or official workarounds.
  • Avoid opening PCX files from untrusted or unexpected sources.
  • Route suspicious image attachments through established malware scanning workflows.
  • Restrict vulnerable image-processing workstations from high-risk inbound file sources.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory macOS endpoints for PhotoLine 20.53 installations.
  • Confirm whether users process PCX images from external sources.
  • Review Talos advisory TALOS-2018-0561 against installed versions.
  • Check vendor release notes or support channels for remediation status.
  • Verify endpoint controls can inspect or quarantine suspicious image attachments.
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-2018-3886 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-2018-3886Attack 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.