CVE-2017-11754 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The WritePICONImage function in coders/xpm.c in ImageMagick 7.0.6-4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory leak) via a crafted file that is mishandled in an OpenPixelCache call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11754 resides within ImageMagick's implementation of the WritePICONImage function in the coders/xpm.c file, representing a critical memory management flaw that can be exploited remotely to cause denial of service conditions. This issue specifically affects ImageMagick version 7.0.6-4 and demonstrates how improper handling of pixel cache operations can lead to resource exhaustion. The vulnerability manifests when a maliciously crafted file is processed through the OpenPixelCache call, which fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation sequences. Such flaws in image processing libraries are particularly dangerous because they can be triggered through web applications that accept user-uploaded images, making them prime targets for exploitation in web-based attack scenarios. The memory leak occurs due to insufficient cleanup of allocated memory blocks when processing malformed input files, leading to progressive memory consumption that can eventually exhaust system resources and render the affected service unavailable.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which categorizes memory leaks as a common weakness in software systems where allocated memory is not properly deallocated, creating persistent resource consumption issues. The flaw operates at the intersection of image processing and memory management, where the WritePICONImage function fails to correctly handle the pixel cache lifecycle management during image creation operations. When the OpenPixelCache call processes the malformed input, it allocates memory resources but does not ensure proper cleanup of these allocations, resulting in a gradual accumulation of unused memory blocks that cannot be reclaimed by the system's memory manager. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be triggered silently through automated scanning tools or manual exploitation attempts, making it difficult to detect until the system begins to experience performance degradation or complete service unavailability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on ImageMagick for image processing within web applications, content management systems, or any service that handles user-uploaded image files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by uploading specially crafted image files that, when processed by the vulnerable ImageMagick version, cause the application server to consume increasing amounts of memory until the system becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can affect multiple concurrent users if the vulnerable application processes images sequentially or maintains persistent connections. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in cloud environments where memory resources are shared among multiple applications, as a single exploited instance could potentially cause cascading failures across the entire system. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments are at risk of experiencing service interruptions, performance degradation, and potential data loss if this vulnerability is not addressed promptly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11754 should focus on immediate patching of the affected ImageMagick version to the latest stable release that contains the memory management fixes. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to prevent processing of potentially malicious image files, including MIME type checking, file size limits, and content scanning for known malicious patterns. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and request filtering can help reduce the impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation activity. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for image processing operations, isolating the vulnerable components from critical system resources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for network denial of service, highlighting the importance of implementing robust resource management and monitoring controls. Additionally, regular security assessments of image processing pipelines and comprehensive vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory management issues that may exist in other components of the application stack.