CVE-2016-7514 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadPSDChannelPixels function in coders/psd.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted PSD file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7514 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the ReadPSDChannelPixels function located in the coders/psd.c file. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted PSD image files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the image parsing logic, creating an exploitable condition where malicious data can trigger unauthorized memory access patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when ImageMagick attempts to process malformed PSD files. When the ReadPSDChannelPixels function processes specially crafted PSD data, it fails to properly validate the size parameters and channel information contained within the file structure. This inadequate validation allows the function to attempt reading memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in unpredictable behavior and system instability. The flaw operates at the core level of image parsing where the software assumes certain data structures conform to expected formats without sufficient verification mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process user-uploaded images or handle PSD file processing in automated environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to crash applications that utilize ImageMagick, potentially leading to complete service disruption for web applications, content management systems, and image processing pipelines. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including web servers, digital asset management systems, and any software that relies on ImageMagick for image handling capabilities. The denial of service condition can be triggered remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible systems.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category, specifically targeting application availability through resource exhaustion and system instability. Organizations utilizing ImageMagick should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple file upload mechanisms in web applications. Additional mitigations include implementing strict input validation for image file formats, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems, and establishing proper file type verification processes before image processing occurs.
The broader implications of CVE-2016-7514 extend beyond immediate denial of service scenarios, as it demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in image processing libraries. This vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of multimedia processing components and emphasizes the risks associated with parsing complex file formats without adequate boundary checking. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting, containerization of image processing services, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other image manipulation libraries. The incident underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project for preventing buffer overflow and out-of-bounds read conditions in file processing applications.