CVE-2016-7520 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in coders/hdr.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted HDR file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7520 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within ImageMagick's HDR file processing component, specifically in the coders/hdr.c module. This flaw exists in the handling of Radiance HDR image files, which are commonly used in computer graphics and scientific visualization applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of malformed HDR file structures, allowing attackers to craft specially designed files that trigger memory corruption when processed by ImageMagick applications. The issue manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition rather than a write operation, making it particularly challenging to exploit for arbitrary code execution but still highly dangerous for system stability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of HDR file headers and data structures that ImageMagick uses to interpret and render high dynamic range images. When processing a crafted HDR file, the software fails to properly validate array indices and buffer sizes, leading to memory access violations that can cause application crashes or unpredictable behavior. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability indicates that the overflow occurs within dynamically allocated memory regions, potentially allowing for more sophisticated exploitation techniques that could be leveraged by attackers with knowledge of memory layout patterns. This particular flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows access beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7520 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can be exploited to disrupt services that rely on ImageMagick for image processing operations. Web applications, content management systems, and image processing pipelines that accept user-uploaded HDR files become vulnerable to this attack vector, potentially allowing adversaries to cause widespread service disruption. The vulnerability affects numerous applications and systems that utilize ImageMagick's library functions, including but not limited to web servers, image conversion tools, and automated processing workflows. Attackers can leverage this flaw to consume system resources through repeated processing attempts, potentially leading to resource exhaustion and system instability. The vulnerability also poses risks in environments where automated image processing is performed, as malicious files could be uploaded and processed without manual intervention, creating persistent denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7520 should focus on immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software that were released prior to the fix. Organizations should implement strict file validation and sanitization procedures for all incoming HDR files, including signature verification and size limitations to prevent malicious file processing. Network-level controls such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers to prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that detect unusual processing patterns or memory access violations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in image processing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and system compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other image processing components and third-party libraries that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions.