CVE-2016-7540 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/rgf.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.4-10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure) by converting an image to rgf format.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7540 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the coders/rgf.c file. This flaw represents a denial of service condition that can be exploited by remote attackers through crafted image files. The vulnerability manifests when the system attempts to convert an image to the rgf format, triggering an assertion failure that causes the application to terminate unexpectedly. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation, where the software fails to properly handle malformed or unexpected input data during the image conversion process. The issue affects ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.4-10, indicating that this was a recognized problem that required a specific patch release to address the underlying flaw.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a failure in the assertion mechanism within the rgf format converter, which is part of ImageMagick's extensive collection of image format handlers. When an attacker submits an image file that triggers the rgf conversion process, the code encounters a condition that violates an expected assertion, causing the program to crash or terminate abruptly. This behavior constitutes a denial of service attack vector since legitimate users attempting to process images through ImageMagick would be unable to complete their operations due to the application's unexpected termination. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices where the software does not properly validate input parameters before attempting to process them in the rgf format conversion routine.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks for systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks, particularly those exposed to untrusted input from external sources. Web applications, content management systems, and file processing services that utilize ImageMagick for image conversion are particularly vulnerable to this type of attack. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption, as attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability repeatedly to maintain persistent denial of service conditions against targeted systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-617, which describes reachable assertions in software, and represents a classic example of how assertion failures can be weaponized for denial of service attacks. Systems using ImageMagick without proper input sanitization or with direct user file upload capabilities are especially at risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7540 primarily focus on upgrading to ImageMagick version 6.9.4-10 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the assertion failure in the rgf format converter. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that filter or reject potentially malicious image files before they reach the ImageMagick processing pipeline. Network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious file conversion activities. Additionally, application-level sandboxing techniques should be employed to isolate ImageMagick processes and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing automated monitoring for service availability and establish incident response procedures for handling denial of service events. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against exploitation of known vulnerabilities in widely-used software components. Organizations should also consider the ATT&CK framework's relevance to this vulnerability, where the technique of service disruption through assertion failure aligns with methods used in system compromise and availability attacks.