CVE-2016-5689 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The DCM reader in ImageMagick before 6.9.4-5 and 7.x before 7.0.1-7 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact by leveraging lack of NULL pointer checks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5689 represents a critical security flaw within ImageMagick's DCM (Digital Color Management) file reader component. This issue affects versions prior to 6.9.4-5 and 7.x prior to 7.0.1-7, creating a significant attack surface for remote adversaries who can exploit the absence of proper NULL pointer validation mechanisms. The DCM format is commonly used for color management in digital imaging workflows, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that process image files from untrusted sources.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the DCM reader implementation where the software fails to properly check for NULL pointer references during file parsing operations. When processing malformed or specially crafted DCM files, the reader encounters situations where pointers intended to reference valid memory locations become NULL, leading to potential memory access violations or undefined behavior. This lack of defensive programming practices creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious input that triggers memory corruption conditions, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution or system compromise.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute remote code on systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick, particularly in environments where image processing occurs automatically or through web applications that accept user-uploaded files. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability could potentially lead to various security consequences including privilege escalation, information disclosure, or complete system compromise depending on the execution context and target environment. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, or any platform that processes image files from external sources without proper sanitization.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to ImageMagick versions 6.9.4-5 or 7.0.1-7, which contain the necessary patches to address the NULL pointer validation issues. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures for all image file processing operations can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and represents a typical example of how insufficient error handling can create exploitable conditions in software components that process structured data formats. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems that process image files, particularly those that might be vulnerable to remote exploitation through this class of vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a software vulnerability exploitation technique where adversaries leverage known weaknesses in image processing libraries to achieve remote code execution, emphasizing the importance of keeping third-party libraries updated and maintaining comprehensive vulnerability management processes.