CVE-2016-8677 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The AcquireQuantumPixels function in MagickCore/quantum.c in ImageMagick before 7.0.3-1 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted image file, which triggers a memory allocation failure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8677 represents a critical memory allocation failure within the AcquireQuantumPixels function of ImageMagick's MagickCore library. This flaw exists in versions prior to 7.0.3-1 and affects the core image processing capabilities of the widely-used image manipulation software. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the quantum.c file, which handles the allocation of pixel data during image processing operations. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious image file that triggers this specific function, the system experiences memory allocation failure that can lead to various unintended consequences including application crashes, denial of service conditions, or potentially more severe exploitation vectors depending on the execution environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-122, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and relates to improper input validation within memory allocation routines. The AcquireQuantumPixels function processes image pixel data and allocates memory based on the image dimensions and color depth specified in the input file. When malicious input parameters are provided, the function fails to properly validate the memory requirements or handle edge cases, leading to allocation failures that can cascade into system instability. This type of vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient resource management where the software does not adequately check the validity of input parameters before attempting to allocate system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8677 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt image processing services that rely on ImageMagick. Web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms that accept user-uploaded images are particularly vulnerable since they often process images through ImageMagick's libraries. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that exploitation could potentially lead to more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution, especially when the vulnerable system processes images in contexts where additional attack surface exists. Attackers can craft specially formatted image files that cause the software to attempt invalid memory allocations, potentially triggering memory corruption issues that could be exploited in certain environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of ImageMagick installations to version 7.0.3-1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the memory allocation handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures for all image uploads, including file format verification, size restrictions, and content analysis to prevent malicious files from reaching the processing pipeline. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious image file patterns, while application-level sandboxing can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices including proper resource management, input validation, and memory allocation error handling as outlined in the software security guidelines of the Open Web Application Security Project. System administrators should monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and maintain updated security configurations that limit the attack surface for image processing services.