CVE-2017-12641 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 7.0.6-1 has a memory leak vulnerability in ReadOneJNGImage in coders\png.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12641 represents a critical memory leak issue within ImageMagick version 7.0.6-1, specifically affecting the ReadOneJNGImage function located in the coders\png.c file. This flaw demonstrates a classic memory management error that can be exploited to consume excessive system resources and potentially lead to system instability or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because ImageMagick is widely used across various platforms and applications for image processing tasks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit resource exhaustion vulnerabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory allocation and deallocation practices within the JNG (JPEG Network Graphics) image format parsing logic. When ImageMagick processes maliciously crafted JNG files through the ReadOneJNGImage function, the application fails to properly release allocated memory blocks, resulting in gradual memory consumption over time. This memory leak pattern aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper release of memory after use, and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's resource management protocols. The vulnerability operates at the input validation and parsing layer, where the software fails to implement adequate memory cleanup routines during the image format processing workflow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who craft specially designed JNG image files that trigger the memory leak condition. When such files are processed by applications utilizing the vulnerable ImageMagick library, the system's memory consumption increases progressively until system performance degrades significantly or complete system crashes occur. The impact extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as this vulnerability can be leveraged in automated attack scenarios where multiple malicious files are processed sequentially, amplifying the denial of service potential. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, making it particularly dangerous in web applications and server environments where ImageMagick is commonly deployed.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12641 primarily involve immediate software updates to patched versions of ImageMagick where the memory leak has been addressed through proper memory management implementations. System administrators should prioritize patching affected installations and consider implementing input validation measures that restrict processing of untrusted image files. Additional protective measures include deploying memory monitoring tools to detect unusual memory consumption patterns and implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing vulnerable ImageMagick versions and establish monitoring protocols for detecting potential exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves implementing proper memory deallocation routines and ensuring that all allocated memory blocks are released appropriately when processing JNG image formats, addressing the root cause of the memory leak condition that was present in the original vulnerable code implementation.