CVE-2016-10062 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadGROUP4Image function in coders/tiff.c in ImageMagick does not check the return value of the fwrite function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10062 resides within ImageMagick's TIFF image processing library, specifically in the ReadGROUP4Image function located in coders/tiff.c. This flaw represents a classic case of improper error handling that can be exploited to execute denial of service attacks against applications relying on ImageMagick for image processing. The vulnerability stems from the function's failure to validate the return value of the fwrite system call, which is a critical oversight in memory management and input validation practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when ImageMagick processes a malformed TIFF file containing crafted GROUP4 data. During the image decoding process, the ReadGROUP4Image function attempts to write data to output buffers without verifying whether the fwrite operation completed successfully. When fwrite encounters an error condition such as insufficient disk space, permission issues, or memory allocation failures, it returns an error code that is ignored by the vulnerable code path. This unchecked return value allows the application to continue execution in an inconsistent state, ultimately leading to application crashes or abrupt termination.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications, content management systems, and any service that accepts user-uploaded image files processed by ImageMagick. Attackers can craft malicious TIFF files designed to trigger the specific code path where fwrite is called without proper error checking, resulting in remote denial of service conditions that can disrupt service availability for legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ImageMagick is used as a backend processing component for user-generated content, as it can be exploited through simple file uploads without requiring authentication or special privileges.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-252, which categorizes improper checking of return values as a fundamental software security flaw. This weakness creates an attack surface that can be leveraged by adversaries following ATT&CK tactics such as T1499.004 - Endpoint Denial of Service, where the goal is to render systems unavailable through resource exhaustion or application instability. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor coding oversights can create significant security implications, particularly in widely-used libraries that form the foundation of many applications. Organizations using ImageMagick versions containing this flaw should prioritize immediate patching to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability does not require complex attack vectors or specialized knowledge to trigger. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to patched versions of ImageMagick where proper error handling has been implemented to validate fwrite return values and gracefully handle I/O operation failures.