CVE-2017-10799 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
When GraphicsMagick 1.3.25 processes a DPX image (with metadata indicating a large width) in coders/dpx.c, a denial of service (OOM) can occur in ReadDPXImage().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10799 represents a critical denial of service flaw within GraphicsMagick version 1.3.25 that specifically affects the processing of Digital Picture Exchange format images. This issue manifests in the coders/dpx.c module where the ReadDPXImage() function fails to properly validate image metadata parameters, creating a condition where maliciously crafted DPX files can trigger excessive memory allocation. The flaw occurs when the DPX image contains metadata that indicates an unusually large width value, causing the software to attempt allocating memory proportional to this inflated dimension rather than the actual image data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the DPX image parser. When GraphicsMagick encounters a DPX file with malformed metadata containing an exaggerated width field, the system proceeds to allocate memory based on this incorrect dimension without proper bounds checking. This memory allocation behavior directly violates the principles of secure coding practices and demonstrates a classic case of insufficient resource management. The vulnerability operates at the level of memory allocation and buffer handling, making it particularly dangerous in environments where GraphicsMagick processes untrusted image files from external sources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems that rely on GraphicsMagick for image processing tasks, particularly those handling user-uploaded content or processing images from third-party sources. The out-of-memory condition can cause the application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users. This denial of service scenario can be exploited by attackers to disrupt services through simple crafted DPX files, making it a particularly attractive target for abuse in web applications and content management systems. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-704, which classifies improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for systems that process multimedia content. Organizations deploying GraphicsMagick in production environments face potential downtime and resource exhaustion attacks that could be amplified through automated exploitation. The flaw demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input sanitization and resource allocation controls, particularly when handling binary formats with complex metadata structures. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service categories, where attackers can leverage such flaws to gain control over system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10799 should prioritize immediate patching of GraphicsMagick installations to version 1.3.26 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper metadata validation. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the application level, including setting reasonable limits on image dimensions and implementing timeout mechanisms for image processing operations. Network-level controls such as content filtering and sandboxing techniques can provide additional protection against malicious DPX files. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper resource management in multimedia processing libraries and the necessity of comprehensive testing with malformed inputs to prevent similar issues in other software components.