CVE-2016-7528 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadVIFFImage function in coders/viff.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a crafted VIFF file.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7528 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the ReadVIFFImage function located in the coders/viff.c file. This flaw represents a classic buffer over-read condition that occurs when processing VIFF (Virtual Image File Format) image files, which are used for storing volumetric image data. The vulnerability manifests when ImageMagick attempts to parse a maliciously crafted VIFF file, leading to a segmentation fault that crashes the application. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in system instability or denial of service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of image metadata within the VIFF file format parser. When ImageMagick encounters a malformed VIFF file containing crafted headers or data structures, the ReadVIFFImage function fails to properly validate the input parameters before attempting to access memory locations. This unvalidated memory access results in a segmentation fault that terminates the application process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through web applications or services that utilize ImageMagick for image processing, making it a significant threat to online platforms that accept user-uploaded images. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities to achieve denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks, particularly web applications, content management systems, and file upload services. The denial of service impact can be severe as it allows attackers to disrupt services by simply uploading a malicious VIFF file, potentially causing system downtime, resource exhaustion, or application crashes. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of ImageMagick and can be exploited by attackers without requiring special privileges or authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attacks. The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption, as repeated exploitation attempts can lead to resource exhaustion and may potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate their attacks or gain additional system access through related vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7528 should include immediate patching of ImageMagick installations to version 6.9.3-7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. Organizations should also implement strict input validation and sanitization measures, particularly for file uploads, by validating file formats, implementing file type checks, and employing content inspection tools to detect malicious files before they are processed by ImageMagick. Network-level protections such as implementing file type whitelisting, deploying web application firewalls, and using sandboxing techniques can provide additional layers of defense. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file processing patterns and segmentation fault occurrences that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in image processing libraries, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry security frameworks. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other image processing components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar classes of vulnerabilities.