CVE-2016-8683 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadPCXImage function in coders/pcx.c in GraphicsMagick 1.3.25 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted image, which triggers a memory allocation failure and a "file truncation error for corrupt file."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8683 resides within the GraphicsMagick library's ReadPCXImage function located in coders/pcx.c version 1.3.25. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to manipulate the image processing pipeline through the deliberate crafting of malicious PCX image files. The vulnerability operates by exploiting memory allocation mechanisms within the graphics processing library, creating a scenario where legitimate image parsing routines become vectors for potential system compromise. When a maliciously constructed PCX file is processed, the function fails to properly handle memory allocation requests, leading to a cascade of failures that ultimately results in a file truncation error indicating corrupt file conditions. This particular vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can potentially lead to denial of service conditions or more severe exploitation scenarios depending on the execution environment and system configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the PCX image parser. When GraphicsMagick attempts to read a malformed PCX file, the ReadPCXImage function does not properly validate the structure of the incoming data before attempting memory allocation operations. This creates an environment where attackers can craft specific byte sequences that cause the parser to allocate memory in unexpected ways, potentially leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. The vulnerability manifests as a memory allocation failure that is subsequently reported as a file truncation error, which serves as a misleading indicator of the actual underlying issue. This error handling mechanism may mask the true nature of the attack, making detection and analysis more challenging for security professionals. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which deals with insufficient input validation, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can occur during memory operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8683 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, potentially enabling more sophisticated attack vectors depending on the deployment environment. Systems that process untrusted image content, such as web applications, content management systems, or file upload services, become vulnerable to this attack when using GraphicsMagick for image handling. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack surfaces including web applications that accept image uploads, automated image processing services, or any system that relies on GraphicsMagick for image manipulation tasks. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause service disruption, system instability, or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution in scenarios where the affected library is used in contexts that allow for memory corruption exploitation. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed through simple file delivery mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for applications that process images from untrusted sources without proper sanitization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of GraphicsMagick installations to versions that contain fixed implementations of the ReadPCXImage function. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that include strict file format verification and size limitation checks before any image processing occurs. Network-level defenses should incorporate image scanning and sanitization processes that can detect and block potentially malicious image files before they reach the GraphicsMagick processing pipeline. Additionally, application developers should consider implementing proper error handling and memory management practices that can gracefully handle malformed input without exposing underlying system resources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which deals with Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a classic example of how file format parsing vulnerabilities can be leveraged for remote code execution or service disruption. System administrators should also monitor for unusual memory allocation patterns or file processing errors that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintain regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other image processing libraries that may be in use across the enterprise infrastructure.