CVE-2016-10055 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the WritePDBImage function in coders/pdb.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.5-8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or other unspecified impact via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10055 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within ImageMagick's PDB image coder module, specifically affecting the WritePDBImage function in the coders/pdb.c file. This flaw exists in ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.5-8, making a substantial portion of the software ecosystem susceptible to exploitation. The buffer overflow occurs when processing specially crafted PDB (Portable Database) image files, which can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute malicious code or cause system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the WritePDBImage function, where the application fails to properly validate input data lengths before copying them into fixed-size buffers. This classic programming error allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The flaw operates at the memory management level, where insufficient input validation creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execution flow. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a common attack vector that has been consistently exploited in image processing libraries due to the complex nature of format parsing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on ImageMagick for image processing tasks, particularly those handling untrusted user uploads or external image sources. The remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this flaw without requiring local access, making it particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, and file processing services. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the buffer overflow could potentially allow for privilege escalation or information disclosure, depending on the execution environment. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and T1499, covering network denial of service attacks through application exploitation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all ImageMagick installations to version 6.9.5-8 or later, as this represents the most effective mitigation strategy against this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing input validation measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection, particularly when processing user-uploaded content. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of systems running ImageMagick to untrusted inputs. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual memory access patterns or application crashes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management for open source components, as ImageMagick is widely used across various platforms and applications. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations to contain potential exploitation attempts and prevent full system compromise.