CVE-2016-7522 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadPSDImage function in MagickCore/locale.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 • 07/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7522 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within ImageMagick's PSD file processing functionality. This issue specifically affects the ReadPSDImage function located in the MagickCore/locale.c source file, where improper input validation leads to memory access violations when handling maliciously crafted PSD files. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in unpredictable behavior and system instability. Attackers can exploit this weakness by preparing a specially crafted PSD file that triggers the vulnerable code path during image parsing operations, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt legitimate system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when ImageMagick attempts to parse PSD files without adequate bounds checking on array indices or buffer sizes. During the processing of the malicious PSD file, the ReadPSDImage function accesses memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, causing the application to read data from unauthorized memory regions. This out-of-bounds read can result in application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution environment. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer over-read vulnerability pattern that commonly occurs in image processing libraries when handling malformed or untrusted input files. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because PSD files are widely used in professional graphic design and publishing workflows, making the attack surface extensive across various industries and applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems that process PSD files from untrusted sources, including web applications, content management systems, and automated image processing pipelines. The denial of service condition can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt legitimate services, causing availability issues that affect business operations and user experience. Organizations running ImageMagick-based applications are particularly vulnerable when these systems process user-uploaded content or receive files from external sources without proper sanitization. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage software weaknesses to disrupt service availability. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more sophisticated attack objectives.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7522 should focus on immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases of the software. System administrators should implement input validation measures that restrict PSD file processing to trusted sources and employ sandboxing techniques to isolate image processing operations. Network-level protections can include implementing file type filtering and content inspection to prevent malicious PSD files from reaching vulnerable systems. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unusual patterns in image processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in image processing libraries, as well as the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party components used in enterprise applications. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.