CVE-2016-5241 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
magick/render.c in GraphicsMagick before 1.3.24 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (arithmetic exception and application crash) via a crafted svg file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5241 resides within the GraphicsMagick library's rendering component, specifically in the magick/render.c file. This flaw affects GraphicsMagick versions prior to 1.3.24 and represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely through the processing of maliciously crafted svg files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the SVG rendering pipeline, creating a scenario where malformed input can trigger arithmetic exceptions that ultimately lead to application crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when GraphicsMagick attempts to process specially crafted SVG files that contain malformed mathematical expressions or geometric parameters. The flaw manifests as an arithmetic exception during the rendering process, where the library encounters invalid mathematical operations or division by zero conditions that are not properly handled. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-191, Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound), and CWE-190, Integer Overflow (Wrap or Wraparound), as the arithmetic exceptions typically arise from improper handling of integer operations during SVG parsing. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web applications or services that utilize GraphicsMagick for image processing, making it a prime target for remote exploitation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on GraphicsMagick for image conversion and rendering tasks. Attackers can remotely trigger application crashes by uploading or submitting malicious SVG files, leading to service disruption and potential system instability. The denial of service condition affects not only the immediate application but can also impact underlying infrastructure, as crashed processes may consume system resources or trigger cascading failures in dependent services. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web environments where users can upload files, as it can be leveraged to disrupt web applications, content management systems, or any service that processes user-uploaded images through GraphicsMagick.
Organizations utilizing GraphicsMagick should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 1.3.24 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the arithmetic exception handling issues. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened at the application level to sanitize SVG inputs before processing, implementing proper error handling and timeout mechanisms to prevent exploitation. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by filtering suspicious SVG content. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, as it can be used to disrupt services through targeted exploitation of application vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other image processing libraries and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.