CVE-2017-11724 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadMATImage function in coders/mat.c in ImageMagick through 6.9.9-3 and 7.x through 7.0.6-3 has memory leaks involving the quantum_info and clone_info data structures.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11724 represents a critical memory management flaw within ImageMagick's image processing library, specifically affecting the ReadMATImage function in the coders/mat.c file. This issue manifests as memory leaks that occur during the handling of MAT files, which are MATLAB data files commonly used in scientific computing and data analysis environments. The vulnerability affects both the legacy 6.x series and the newer 7.x series of ImageMagick, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of this image processing library across various platforms and applications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory deallocation within the quantum_info and clone_info data structures during the image reading process. When ImageMagick attempts to parse MAT files through the ReadMATImage function, it fails to properly release memory allocated for these critical data structures, leading to progressive memory consumption that can eventually result in application instability or denial of service conditions. This memory leak behavior is classified under CWE-401 as improper deallocation of memory, where the application allocates memory but fails to properly free it, creating a resource exhaustion scenario. The flaw specifically impacts how ImageMagick handles the quantum_info structure that manages pixel data representation and the clone_info structure used for image cloning operations during the MAT file parsing process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption issues, as it creates potential for system instability and service disruption in environments where ImageMagick is heavily utilized. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious MAT files that, when processed by vulnerable ImageMagick implementations, would cause progressive memory leaks that could eventually lead to application crashes or system resource exhaustion. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, or any environment where user-uploaded files are processed through ImageMagick. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion attacks, where adversaries leverage memory leaks to consume system resources and cause service disruption. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web uploads, file processing pipelines, or automated image analysis systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11724 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ImageMagick versions to the latest stable releases that contain the memory management fixes. System administrators should implement strict file validation and sanitization processes for any user-uploaded content that may be processed through ImageMagick, including implementing file type restrictions and size limits. Network segmentation and application sandboxing can help contain the impact of potential exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure rapid deployment of security updates across all systems utilizing ImageMagick, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions and deployment scenarios across different operating systems and platforms. The fix implemented in the patched versions addresses the specific memory deallocation issues in the quantum_info and clone_info structures, ensuring proper cleanup of allocated resources during MAT file processing operations.