CVE-2012-0248 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 6.7.5-7 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and hang) via a crafted image whose IFD contains IOP tags that all reference the beginning of the IDF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0248 affects ImageMagick versions 6.7.5-7 and earlier, presenting a significant denial of service risk that can be exploited by remote attackers. This flaw resides in the image processing library's handling of image file directory (IFD) structures within image files, specifically when IOP (Image Orientation Property) tags reference the beginning of the IFD. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input validation and resource management where the software fails to properly validate the structure and references within image metadata, leading to exploitable conditions that can be triggered remotely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how ImageMagick processes IFD structures in image files, particularly when encountering IOP tags that create circular references pointing to the beginning of the IFD. This creates an infinite loop condition during the parsing process where the software continuously iterates through the same memory locations without making forward progress. The flaw operates at the level of image file format parsing and metadata handling, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by simply processing a maliciously crafted image file without any additional user interaction. This behavior aligns with CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop, and demonstrates how improper validation of file structures can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged in various attack scenarios including web application exploitation, automated scanning systems, and content delivery network attacks. When exploited, the vulnerability causes indefinite hanging of the ImageMagick processing pipeline, consuming system resources and potentially leading to complete system unresponsiveness. Attackers can craft image files that, when processed by vulnerable systems, will cause the application to enter an infinite loop that consumes CPU cycles and memory resources. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where ImageMagick is used to process user-uploaded content, as it can be used to perform resource exhaustion attacks against web applications and content management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0248 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to ImageMagick 6.7.5-8 or later, which contain patches addressing the IFD parsing logic and proper validation of IOP tag references. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including image file validation, content filtering, and resource limits on image processing operations. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and file type restrictions can help prevent exploitation attempts, while application-level defenses should include proper input sanitization and timeout mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper resource management and input validation in image processing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for resource exhaustion attacks and demonstrating how seemingly benign file format parsing can become a vector for system compromise. System administrators should also consider implementing automated monitoring for abnormal CPU and memory usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the infinite loop behavior can be detected through system performance monitoring tools.