CVE-2012-0247 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 6.7.5-7 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) and possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted offset and count values in the ResolutionUnit tag in the EXIF IFD0 of an image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0247 represents a critical memory corruption issue within ImageMagick version 6.7.5-7 and earlier installations. This flaw exists in the processing of EXIF metadata, specifically within the ResolutionUnit tag of the EXIF IFD0 structure, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through image files that appear legitimate to end users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management when parsing image metadata, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted image files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of offset and count values within the EXIF IFD0 tag structure, which causes ImageMagick to allocate memory incorrectly during the parsing process. When the software encounters these malformed values, it fails to properly validate the input parameters, leading to memory corruption that can result in program crashes or potentially allow arbitrary code execution. This memory corruption occurs during the image processing pipeline when ImageMagick attempts to read and interpret the metadata fields, specifically targeting the memory allocation routines that handle the ResolutionUnit tag.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0247 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability can potentially enable remote code execution when exploited successfully. Systems that process user-uploaded images or automatically fetch images from external sources become particularly vulnerable, as attackers can craft malicious image files that trigger the vulnerability when opened or processed by vulnerable ImageMagick installations. This makes the flaw especially dangerous in web applications, content management systems, and any environment where image processing is automated or user-provided content is accepted.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to ImageMagick version 6.7.5-8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory corruption issues in EXIF metadata parsing. Additional mitigations include implementing strict image validation and sanitization processes, disabling unnecessary image format support, and employing sandboxed processing environments for image files. Network-level controls such as content filtering and image verification mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures across multiple defensive layers.