CVE-2016-10071 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/mat.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.4-0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) via a crafted mat file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10071 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within ImageMagick's mat file processing functionality. This issue resides in the coders/mat.c file and affects all versions prior to 6.9.4-0, creating a significant security risk for systems that process potentially malicious image files. The flaw manifests when ImageMagick attempts to parse crafted mat files, which are typically MATLAB matrix files used for data exchange between MATLAB applications and other systems. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to exploit this weakness by submitting specially crafted mat files that trigger memory access violations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the mat file parser. When ImageMagick encounters a malformed mat file, the parsing logic fails to properly validate array dimensions and memory offsets, resulting in attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds memory access pattern directly leads to application crashes and can potentially be exploited for more sophisticated attacks. The flaw specifically occurs during the processing of matrix data structures where the software assumes certain data formats and sizes without adequate verification, creating a predictable memory access pattern that adversaries can manipulate.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations that rely on ImageMagick for image processing workflows, particularly in web applications, content management systems, and file upload services. The denial of service impact means that legitimate users could experience service disruption when malicious files are processed through affected systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload files or where ImageMagick is used to process files from untrusted sources. Security teams must consider the potential for cascading failures when this vulnerability is exploited in systems that depend on ImageMagick for automated image processing tasks, as the application crash could lead to complete service unavailability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient boundary checking in memory management operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service, as it enables attackers to disrupt services through application-level exploitation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to ImageMagick version 6.9.4-0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the boundary checking deficiencies. Additionally, implementing file type validation, content filtering, and restricting file upload capabilities for potentially malicious formats can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting for unusual application crash patterns, as these could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in image processing libraries, as similar flaws in other graphics libraries have been exploited for more severe attacks including remote code execution.