CVE-2017-1000445 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 7.0.7-1 and older version are vulnerable to null pointer dereference in the MagickCore component and might lead to denial of service
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2023
ImageMagick represents a widely used suite of software tools and libraries for creating, editing, and converting bitmap images across numerous operating systems and platforms. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000445 specifically affects versions 7.0.7-1 and earlier within the MagickCore component, which serves as the foundational library for image processing operations. This flaw manifests as a null pointer dereference condition that occurs when the software attempts to access memory through a pointer that has not been properly initialized or has been set to null. The vulnerability arises during the processing of specially crafted image files, where the application fails to validate pointer states before dereferencing them, creating a scenario where execution flow can proceed to an invalid memory location.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of image metadata and file parsing operations within the MagickCore library. When ImageMagick processes certain malformed image files, particularly those containing crafted headers or corrupted data structures, the code path leading to pointer dereference lacks adequate null checks. This condition typically occurs during the interpretation of image format specifications where the software expects certain data structures to be populated but encounters null values instead. The flaw operates at the core level of the image processing pipeline, affecting how the application allocates and manages memory during file parsing operations. According to CWE-476, this vulnerability maps directly to a null pointer dereference weakness, where a null pointer is used in a context that requires a valid memory reference.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across various deployment scenarios where ImageMagick is utilized for image processing tasks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious image files that trigger the null pointer dereference when processed by vulnerable versions of ImageMagick. This exploitation results in immediate denial of service conditions, causing the application to crash or terminate unexpectedly. The severity of this impact becomes particularly pronounced in environments where ImageMagick operates as a service or processing system, such as web applications, content management systems, or automated image handling pipelines. The vulnerability can be leveraged in both local and remote attack scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that accept user-uploaded images or process external image sources. Organizations relying on ImageMagick for image processing workflows face potential service disruption, resource exhaustion, and application instability when this vulnerability is exploited.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-1000445 aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the execution and privilege escalation domains. The vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries leverage legitimate system tools to execute malicious code, in this case through image file manipulation. Additionally, the denial of service aspect connects to T1499, which covers service stoppage and resource exhaustion attacks. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability operates at the application layer, making it susceptible to exploitation through various attack vectors including web application interfaces, file upload mechanisms, or automated processing pipelines. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations to version 7.0.7-2 or later, which includes the necessary pointer validation fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation, file type restriction, and sandboxed processing environments to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the broader ImageMagick ecosystem.