CVE-2008-1096 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The load_tile function in the XCF coder in coders/xcf.c in (1) ImageMagick 6.2.8-0 and (2) GraphicsMagick (aka gm) 1.1.7 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted .xcf file that triggers an out-of-bounds heap write, possibly related to the ScaleCharToQuantum function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1096 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the XCF (eXperimental Computer Format) coder implementation of ImageMagick and GraphicsMagick software suites. This vulnerability manifests in the load_tile function located within the coders/xcf.c file, where improper input validation and memory handling creates an exploitable condition that can be triggered through maliciously crafted .xcf image files. The flaw specifically occurs during the processing of XCF format files, which are commonly used for storing image data with extensive metadata and layer information, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted image content.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves an out-of-bounds heap write condition that occurs when the ScaleCharToQuantum function processes data from the crafted .xcf file. This function appears to improperly handle the scaling of character values to quantum values, leading to memory corruption when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-122, which specifically addresses buffer overflows in heap memory allocations where attackers can manipulate memory layout to achieve arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of both denial of service and remote code execution potential, as the heap corruption can either cause application crashes or potentially provide attackers with opportunities to inject and execute malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains and threat models. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to several techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it enables remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability affects both ImageMagick 6.2.8-0 and GraphicsMagick 1.1.7 installations, representing a significant attack surface given the widespread use of these image processing libraries in web applications, content management systems, and file processing services. Organizations that process untrusted image uploads or that utilize these libraries for image manipulation are particularly at risk, as a single malicious .xcf file can compromise entire systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1096 should prioritize immediate patching of affected software versions, with administrators implementing strict file validation and sanitization procedures for all image uploads. The recommended approach includes upgrading to patched versions of ImageMagick and GraphicsMagick where the heap buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and memory management. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing techniques for image processing operations, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file upload patterns, and establishing robust input validation that rejects malformed XCF files before they reach the vulnerable code paths. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for image processing services and regularly auditing system configurations to ensure that vulnerable libraries are not accessible to untrusted users or applications, thereby reducing the attack surface and potential impact of exploitation attempts.