CVE-2017-11352 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick before 7.0.5-10, a crafted RLE image can trigger a crash because of incorrect EOF handling in coders/rle.c. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2017-9144.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11352 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in ImageMagick's handling of Run-Length Encoded (RLE) image files. This issue affects versions prior to 7.0.5-10 and stems from inadequate end-of-file condition checking within the coders/rle.c source file. The flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted RLE images that contain malformed EOF markers, causing the application to attempt memory access beyond allocated boundaries. This improper handling creates a predictable crash condition that can be exploited by attackers to cause denial-of-service or potentially execute arbitrary code depending on memory layout and exploitation circumstances.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the RLE decoder's failure to properly validate file termination conditions during image parsing operations. When ImageMagick encounters an RLE image with incorrect EOF handling, the decoder continues processing beyond the expected file boundaries, leading to heap corruption and subsequent application crashes. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer. This particular variant demonstrates how incomplete security fixes can create new attack surfaces, as CVE-2017-11352 emerged from an insufficient resolution to its predecessor vulnerability CVE-2017-9144, creating a regression in the software's security posture.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11352 extends beyond simple denial-of-service scenarios, as it can potentially enable remote code execution in certain environments. Attackers can craft malicious RLE images that, when processed by vulnerable ImageMagick installations, trigger the buffer overflow condition. This vulnerability affects web applications, content management systems, and any software that utilizes ImageMagick for image processing, particularly those that accept user-uploaded images without proper sanitization. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities through the use of crafted input files that trigger memory corruption. Systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick are at risk when processing untrusted image files, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in web-facing applications and automated image processing pipelines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11352 require immediate patching to ImageMagick version 7.0.5-10 or later, which contains the complete fix for both the original CVE-2017-9144 and this regression. Organizations should implement comprehensive image validation procedures that include file format verification, size restrictions, and sandboxed processing environments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure of systems that process user-uploaded images, while regular security audits should verify that all image processing components are updated to secure versions. Additionally, implementing automated monitoring for unusual processing patterns and memory access violations can help detect exploitation attempts before they result in successful compromise. The vulnerability underscores the importance of thorough regression testing for security patches and maintaining up-to-date software libraries to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities that may reappear in modified forms.