CVE-2008-6071 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the DecodeImage function in coders/pict.c in GraphicsMagick before 1.1.14, and 1.2.x before 1.2.3, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PICT image. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6071 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting GraphicsMagick image processing libraries. This flaw exists within the DecodeImage function located in the coders/pict.c source file, specifically impacting versions prior to 1.1.14 in the 1.1.x series and 1.2.x series before 1.2.3. The vulnerability arises when processing PICT (Picture) image format files, which are commonly used in macOS environments and widely supported across various image processing applications. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when GraphicsMagick attempts to decode maliciously crafted PICT images. During the DecodeImage function execution, the software fails to properly validate the size parameters of image data structures, particularly concerning the allocation of heap memory for image buffers. When an attacker provides a PICT file containing malformed size indicators or oversized data segments, the application's memory allocation routines become overwhelmed, leading to buffer overflow conditions. This overflow can result in memory corruption that manifests as application crashes or, in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, allows for arbitrary code execution within the context of the GraphicsMagick process. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory safety and image parsing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where GraphicsMagick is used to process untrusted image content.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6071 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a significant security concern for web applications and services that utilize GraphicsMagick for image processing. Systems vulnerable to this flaw include web servers processing user-uploaded images, content management systems, and any application that accepts PICT format images without proper validation. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the condition through network-based attacks without requiring local system access. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the use of malicious image files to execute code, and demonstrates how image processing libraries can serve as attack vectors in broader exploitation campaigns. The potential for remote code execution increases the severity classification, particularly in server environments where the application may run with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6071 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of GraphicsMagick, specifically versions 1.1.14 and 1.2.3 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened at application layers that utilize GraphicsMagick, including implementing strict file format validation, size limiting for image processing, and sandboxing techniques to contain potential exploitation attempts. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls can be configured to detect and block suspicious image file patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing image processing workflows. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions within image processing libraries and related components.