CVE-2013-4298 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadGIFImage function in coders/gif.c in ImageMagick before 6.7.8-8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted comment in a GIF image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4298 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within ImageMagick's GIF image processing functionality. This issue specifically affects the ReadGIFImage function located in the coders/gif.c source file and impacts versions prior to 6.7.8-8. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing GIF image comments, creating a condition where maliciously crafted comment data can trigger unexpected behavior in the application's memory management systems. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with buffer overflow conditions as defined by CWE-121, where insufficient boundary checking allows arbitrary data to be written beyond allocated memory regions.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when ImageMagick processes a specially crafted GIF file containing malformed comment data. During the parsing process, the application fails to properly validate the length and content of comment fields, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in application crash or complete denial of service. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, as it allows remote attackers to disrupt service availability without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The memory corruption manifests as heap-based buffer overflows or stack corruption, depending on how the malformed comment data is processed during image decoding operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4298 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors when combined with other vulnerabilities. Systems utilizing ImageMagick for image processing, including web applications, content management systems, and image processing services, become vulnerable to remote exploitation. The vulnerability affects any application that relies on ImageMagick's GIF handling capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in web environments where users can upload arbitrary image files. Attackers can leverage this flaw to consume system resources or cause application instability, effectively rendering the affected service unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation can occur without physical access to the target system, making it a significant concern for publicly accessible services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4298 focus primarily on updating ImageMagick to version 6.7.8-8 or later, which includes patches addressing the memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing ImageMagick are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for image uploads, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious image files, and configuring sandboxed environments for image processing operations. Network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory consumption patterns or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in image processing libraries, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for preventing buffer overflow conditions in image processing applications.