CVE-2016-10252 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak in the IsOptionMember function in MagickCore/option.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.2-2, as used in ODR-PadEnc and other products, allows attackers to trigger memory consumption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10252 represents a critical memory leak flaw within ImageMagick's MagickCore library, specifically affecting the IsOptionMember function in the MagickCore/option.c file. This issue exists in ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.2-2 and has been exploited in products such as ODR-PadEnc, creating a significant security risk for systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management within the option parsing mechanism that handles command-line arguments and configuration settings.
The technical implementation of this memory leak occurs when the IsOptionMember function processes certain input parameters without properly releasing allocated memory resources. This flaw manifests when the function encounters specific combinations of command-line options or configuration values that trigger an allocation path where memory is allocated but never freed during the function's execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-401 as a weakness related to improper management of memory allocation and deallocation, specifically a memory leak that occurs due to failure to release allocated memory resources. The flaw is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through crafted input parameters that are commonly used in image processing workflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it creates a persistent memory consumption issue that can degrade system performance over time. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by submitting specially crafted image files or command-line parameters that cause the IsOptionMember function to allocate memory repeatedly without proper cleanup. This leads to progressive memory consumption that can eventually cause system instability, application crashes, or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where ImageMagick is used to process user-uploaded content, as it can be leveraged to exhaust system resources and potentially cause cascading failures. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 (Resource Hijacking) and T1566.001 (Phishing with Malicious Image), as it enables attackers to consume system resources and potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10252 primarily involve upgrading to ImageMagick version 6.9.2-2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory leak in the IsOptionMember function. Organizations should also implement input validation measures that restrict the types of command-line parameters and configuration options that can be processed by ImageMagick applications. Additional protective measures include deploying memory monitoring tools to detect unusual memory consumption patterns, implementing resource limits on processes that utilize ImageMagick, and using sandboxing techniques to isolate image processing operations. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious patterns of memory consumption that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper memory management in security-sensitive applications and the potential for seemingly benign input processing functions to become attack vectors when memory handling is inadequate.