CVE-2017-11403 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadMNGImage function in coders/png.c in GraphicsMagick 1.3.26 has an out-of-order CloseBlob call, resulting in a use-after-free via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11403 resides within the GraphicsMagick image processing library version 1.3.26, specifically within the ReadMNGImage function located in coders/png.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that stems from improper resource management during image file processing, creating conditions that allow for memory corruption and potential arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability manifests when GraphicsMagick attempts to process maliciously crafted MNG (Multiple Network Graphics) files that contain specially constructed PNG data structures.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability is an out-of-order CloseBlob call within the ReadMNGImage function, which violates proper resource management protocols. In standard memory safety practices, resources should be released in the reverse order of their acquisition, ensuring that all references to allocated memory are properly managed before closing underlying file handles or blob structures. This particular flaw occurs when the CloseBlob function is called before all references to the associated memory structures have been properly dereferenced, creating a use-after-free condition where freed memory can still be accessed and potentially manipulated by an attacker.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11403 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for arbitrary code execution within applications that utilize GraphicsMagick for image processing. When a vulnerable application processes a crafted MNG file containing malicious PNG data, the improper resource management allows attackers to control the memory layout and potentially inject or manipulate code execution flow. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-415, which describes improper resource management leading to double-free or use-after-free conditions, and represents a classic example of how memory safety issues can translate into remote code execution capabilities.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and can be categorized as a memory corruption exploit. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications or services that accept user-uploaded images, as it allows for remote code execution without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The attack surface is broad since GraphicsMagick is widely used across various applications, including web servers, content management systems, and image processing pipelines that handle untrusted image data from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11403 should focus on immediate patching of GraphicsMagick to version 1.3.27 or later, which contains the corrected resource management implementation. Organizations should also implement defensive measures such as input validation and sanitization of image files before processing, limiting the exposure of vulnerable applications to untrusted input, and monitoring for suspicious file processing activities. Additionally, application-level sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper resource management in security-critical code and serves as a reminder of how seemingly minor implementation details can have severe security implications in image processing libraries that handle complex binary formats.