CVE-2016-7518 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadSUNImage function in coders/sun.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted SUN file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7518 resides within the ReadSUNImage function located in the coders/sun.c file of ImageMagick, a widely used image processing library that supports over 100 image formats. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted SUN image files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the image parsing logic, specifically when processing SUN format image headers and data structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious SUN files that contain malformed data, causing the application to attempt reading memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds read condition can lead to application crashes, system instability, and complete service disruption, making it particularly dangerous in server environments where ImageMagick is used for image processing and conversion tasks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation in image processing libraries can be weaponized for denial of service attacks. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as this flaw affects numerous applications and systems that rely on ImageMagick for image handling, including web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly concerning for publicly accessible services. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the risks associated with parsing complex file formats without adequate boundary checks. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments face significant exposure to this vulnerability, as it can be triggered through various attack vectors including file uploads, image processing APIs, and web-based image manipulation services. The flaw underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of image processing components and emphasizes the critical role of memory safety in preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a common vector for attackers seeking to disrupt services through resource exhaustion or application instability. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal skill and can be automated, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to cause widespread disruption. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate patching of affected ImageMagick versions, implementing input validation controls, and deploying network-based protections to prevent malicious file uploads. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and restricting image processing capabilities to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.