CVE-2016-10046 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the DrawImage function in magick/draw.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.5-5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted image file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10046 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically within the DrawImage function located in magick/draw.c. This flaw affects versions of ImageMagick prior to 6.9.5-5 and presents a significant security risk to systems that process untrusted image files. The vulnerability arises from insufficient bounds checking when handling image data during the drawing operations, allowing maliciously crafted image files to trigger memory corruption. Attackers can exploit this issue remotely by uploading or processing specially crafted image files that contain malformed data structures, leading to unpredictable application behavior and system instability. The buffer overflow occurs in the heap memory management portion of the software, where the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially causing memory corruption that leads to application crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of image file headers and data structures to force the DrawImage function to perform operations that exceed the allocated buffer size. When ImageMagick processes a crafted image file, the malicious input causes the software to allocate memory for drawing operations but subsequently attempt to write more data than the allocated buffer can accommodate. This heap-based overflow condition can be leveraged to cause denial of service attacks where applications using ImageMagick as a component will crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications and content management systems that allow user uploads, as attackers can craft malicious image files that will cause the web application to crash when processing these files. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-10046 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the primary effect is denial of service, the heap corruption could theoretically be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution under certain conditions, making it a significant concern for security-conscious organizations. Systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing, including web applications, digital asset management platforms, and automated image analysis systems, are all at risk when running vulnerable versions of the software. The vulnerability affects both server-side applications that process uploaded images and client-side applications that handle image rendering, creating widespread exposure across different computing environments. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments must consider the potential for service disruption and the need for immediate patching to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10046 primarily focus on updating to patched versions of ImageMagick, specifically versions 6.9.5-5 or later, which contain the necessary fixes to prevent the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly those running web applications or services that process untrusted image content. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for all image uploads, utilizing sandboxing techniques to isolate image processing operations, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1499, Endpoint Denial of Service, highlighting the need for layered defense strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing file type validation and content inspection mechanisms to prevent processing of potentially malicious image files, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other software components.