CVE-2016-10069 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/mat.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.4-5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a mat file with an invalid number of frames.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10069 represents a critical denial of service flaw within ImageMagick's handling of mat files, which are MATLAB data files commonly used for storing scientific and engineering data. This vulnerability specifically affects ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.4-5 and allows remote attackers to trigger application instability through crafted malicious mat files. The flaw manifests when the software processes a mat file containing an invalid number of frames, causing the application to crash and potentially leading to system unavailability. This issue falls under the category of improper input validation where the software fails to properly validate the frame count parameter in mat file structures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can deliver a malicious mat file to a vulnerable system. The attack vector is classified as network-based, where an attacker can send a specially crafted mat file to a system running ImageMagick, leading to an application crash that can be leveraged for denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from ImageMagick's coders/mat.c module which handles the parsing and processing of mat files. When the software encounters a mat file with an invalid frame count, the parsing logic fails to properly handle the malformed data structure, leading to memory corruption or unexpected program termination. This behavior aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and CWE-129, which covers insufficient validation of length fields. The flaw occurs during the file format parsing phase where the software does not adequately validate the frame count field in the mat file header, allowing an attacker to specify an impossible or excessive number of frames that the application cannot process correctly. The lack of proper bounds checking in the frame count validation creates an exploitable condition where the application's memory management routines become corrupted, resulting in a segmentation fault or similar crash condition that terminates the process.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can significantly affect systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing and manipulation tasks, particularly those exposed to untrusted input from external sources. The denial of service condition can be leveraged to disrupt legitimate services, making it a serious concern for web applications, file processing systems, and automated workflows that utilize ImageMagick. Systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick may experience complete service interruption when processing malicious mat files, potentially affecting business operations and user experience. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ImageMagick is used as part of content delivery networks, web applications processing user uploads, or automated image processing pipelines where untrusted input is common. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be used in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more complex exploitation scenarios, potentially leading to further system compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities. Organizations using ImageMagick for image processing must consider the operational implications of this vulnerability when assessing their security posture and implementing mitigation strategies.
The recommended mitigation for CVE-2016-10069 involves upgrading ImageMagick to version 6.9.4-5 or later, which includes proper input validation and error handling for mat file frame count parameters. System administrators should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists to restrict access to systems running ImageMagick, particularly those exposed to untrusted networks or user input. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms or containerization for image processing tasks to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Input validation should be enhanced at multiple levels including application-level checks, network-level filtering, and file type verification to prevent malicious files from reaching the vulnerable parsing code. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual patterns in file processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the upgrade does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or workflows. Organizations should also establish regular patch management processes to ensure timely updates of ImageMagick and other vulnerable software components. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network disruption attacks, and T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in software security design.