CVE-2015-8900 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadHDRImage function in coders/hdr.c in ImageMagick 6.x and 7.x allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted HDR file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8900 represents a critical denial of service flaw within ImageMagick's HDR file processing functionality. This issue affects both ImageMagick version 6.x and 7.x, indicating a persistent flaw across major releases that has remained unaddressed for an extended period. The vulnerability specifically resides in the ReadHDRImage function located within the coders/hdr.c file, which is responsible for handling High Dynamic Range image format files. The flaw manifests when the software encounters a specially crafted HDR file that triggers an infinite loop during the image parsing process, effectively consuming system resources and rendering the application unresponsive.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the HDR file parsing algorithm. When ImageMagick attempts to read a malformed HDR file, the ReadHDRImage function fails to properly terminate its parsing loop, creating a condition where the software enters an endless cycle of processing the same data segment. This infinite loop behavior is particularly dangerous in server environments where ImageMagick might be processing user-uploaded files, as it can lead to complete system resource exhaustion and service unavailability. The flaw operates at the core parsing layer of the image processing pipeline, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard application-level security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on ImageMagick for image processing tasks. Attackers can exploit this flaw by uploading or providing a maliciously crafted HDR file to any system running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick, potentially causing widespread service disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications where users can upload images, as it allows for remote code execution through resource exhaustion attacks. Systems using ImageMagick as part of their content management, image hosting, or file processing workflows become vulnerable to denial of service attacks that can render entire services unavailable. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop or infinite recursion, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8900 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary fixes. Organizations should implement strict file validation and sanitization procedures, particularly for user-uploaded content, by verifying file signatures and implementing timeout mechanisms for image processing operations. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and file type restrictions can help reduce the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing sandboxing or containerization for image processing operations provides an additional layer of isolation, preventing the infinite loop from affecting the broader system. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and error handling in multimedia processing libraries, as these components often become attack vectors due to their complex parsing requirements and the diverse range of file formats they must support.