CVE-2007-1797 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in ImageMagick before 6.3.3-5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a crafted DCM image, which results in a heap-based overflow in the ReadDCMImage function, or (2) the (a) colors or (b) comments field in a crafted XWD image, which results in a heap-based overflow in the ReadXWDImage function, different issues than CVE-2007-1667.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1797 represents a critical security flaw in ImageMagick, a widely used software library for image processing and manipulation. This vulnerability affects versions of ImageMagick prior to 6.3.3-5 and exposes users to significant remote code execution risks through specifically crafted image files. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that leverage integer overflows within the library's image parsing functions, creating heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on systems processing these malicious images.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within two separate image handling functions within ImageMagick's codebase. The first vector involves crafted DCM (Digital Communications in Medicine) image files that trigger a heap-based overflow in the ReadDCMImage function. This occurs when the software fails to properly validate integer values during the parsing process, leading to memory corruption when attempting to allocate memory blocks based on malformed input data. The second vector targets XWD (X Window Dump) image files and exploits integer overflows in the ReadXWDImage function through manipulation of either the colors or comments fields. These integer overflows result in insufficient memory allocation for buffer operations, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1797 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass broader system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malicious payloads. The heap-based nature of these overflows makes them particularly dangerous as they can be used to manipulate memory layout and potentially bypass modern exploit mitigation techniques such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in web environments where ImageMagick is commonly used for image processing in content management systems, web applications, and file upload handlers.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can result in buffer overflows and memory corruption. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script interpreter execution, T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The attack surface is broad given ImageMagick's widespread adoption across various platforms and applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users process untrusted image files from external sources. The fact that this vulnerability involves different issues than CVE-2007-1667 indicates that multiple distinct integer overflow conditions exist within the ImageMagick library, highlighting the complexity of addressing such memory safety issues in large software libraries. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement additional security controls such as image validation, sandboxing, and network segmentation to mitigate the risk of exploitation.