CVE-2017-12670 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.6-3, missing validation was found in coders/mat.c, leading to an assertion failure in the function DestroyImage in MagickCore/image.c, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12670 represents a critical denial of service flaw within ImageMagick version 7.0.6-3, specifically manifesting in the mat.c file where inadequate input validation has been discovered. This weakness resides in the image processing pipeline of one of the most widely used image manipulation libraries in the world, making it a significant concern for system administrators and security professionals across multiple industries. The flaw occurs during the processing of image files that utilize the MAT format, which is commonly employed for storing scientific and medical imaging data. When an attacker provides a malformed or specially crafted MAT file, the system fails to properly validate the input parameters before proceeding with image destruction operations, creating a scenario where the assertion failure can be triggered without proper error handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper boundary checking and input validation within the DestroyImage function located in MagickCore/image.c, while the problematic code path originates from the coders/mat.c file that handles MAT file format parsing. This assertion failure occurs when the system attempts to destroy an image object that has not been properly initialized or has been corrupted during the parsing process, leading to an abrupt termination of the application. The flaw falls under the category of assertion failure in software development practices, which is classified as CWE-617 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing a condition where an assertion that should never be false is violated, causing the program to crash or terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through simple file manipulation without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services in environments where ImageMagick is used for processing user-uploaded content, such as web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. When exploited, the assertion failure can cause the target application to crash repeatedly, potentially leading to complete service unavailability and significant business disruption. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in cloud environments and multi-tenant systems where a single compromised instance could affect multiple users or organizations. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to system instability, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, as it can be used to systematically disrupt services by causing application crashes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12670 should focus on immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations, as the vulnerability was resolved in subsequent releases of the software. Organizations should implement proper input validation measures at application level, including file format checking and size limitations for uploaded images, to prevent malformed files from reaching the ImageMagick processing pipeline. Network-based mitigations could include implementing file type restrictions and content filtering mechanisms to block potentially malicious MAT files before they can be processed. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling and robust software testing practices, particularly in image processing libraries that handle untrusted input. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar validation flaws in other image processing components and ensure that all third-party libraries are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Additionally, implementing monitoring and alerting systems can help detect unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, providing early warning capabilities for potential denial of service attacks targeting image processing services.