CVE-2016-8862 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The AcquireMagickMemory function in MagickCore/memory.c in GraphicsMagick before 7.0.3.3 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted image, which triggers a memory allocation failure.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8862 represents a critical memory management flaw within GraphicsMagick's MagickCore component, specifically within the AcquireMagickMemory function located in MagickCore/memory.c. This issue affects GraphicsMagick versions prior to 7.0.3.3 and exposes systems to potential remote exploitation through crafted image files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of memory allocation requests during image processing operations, creating a scenario where maliciously constructed image data can trigger unexpected behavior in the memory management subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the AcquireMagickMemory function's failure to properly validate or handle memory allocation requests when processing specially crafted image files. When GraphicsMagick attempts to allocate memory for image data processing, the function does not adequately check the validity of allocation parameters or handle edge cases that could lead to memory allocation failures. This flaw falls under CWE-704, which encompasses improper handling of memory allocation failures, and can potentially lead to memory corruption or resource exhaustion scenarios. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it can be triggered remotely through image file processing, making it exploitable in web applications, email attachments, or any system that processes untrusted image content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on GraphicsMagick for image processing tasks. Attackers can craft malicious image files that, when processed by vulnerable systems, cause memory allocation failures leading to unpredictable system behavior. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests potential outcomes including denial of service conditions, memory corruption, or in worst-case scenarios, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that systems processing image uploads or downloads are at risk, particularly web applications that use GraphicsMagick for image manipulation, conversion, or validation. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities for privilege escalation or system compromise.
Organizations should immediately update to GraphicsMagick version 7.0.3.3 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. In the interim, administrators should implement strict image validation protocols, including file type verification, size limitations, and sandboxed processing environments. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems that process image files. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory allocation patterns or processing failures that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing automated image scanning solutions that can identify and quarantine potentially malicious image files before they reach the processing pipeline. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in image processing libraries and highlights the need for thorough input validation in multimedia processing applications to prevent exploitation through crafted file formats.