CVE-2017-13058 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.6-6, a memory leak vulnerability was found in the function WritePCXImage in coders/pcx.c, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13058 represents a critical memory leak issue within ImageMagick's PCX image format handling functionality. This flaw exists specifically within the WritePCXImage function located in the coders/pcx.c source file of ImageMagick version 7.0.6-6. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes maliciously crafted PCX image files, leading to improper memory management during the image writing operation. The memory leak occurs due to insufficient memory deallocation mechanisms within the function's code path, causing the application to consume increasing amounts of memory over time without proper cleanup.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under CWE-401, which categorizes memory leaks as a common weakness in software systems. The flaw demonstrates how improper resource management can create exploitable conditions within image processing libraries. When an attacker submits a specially constructed PCX file to an application utilizing the vulnerable ImageMagick version, the WritePCXImage function fails to properly release allocated memory segments, resulting in progressive memory consumption that can ultimately exhaust system resources. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because PCX is a widely supported image format, making it a viable attack vector across numerous applications and systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13058 extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it enables attackers to perform denial of service attacks against systems processing image files. This vulnerability can be exploited in web applications, file processing services, and any environment where ImageMagick is used to handle user-uploaded or externally sourced PCX images. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal sophistication from the attacker, who only needs to craft a malicious PCX file to trigger the memory leak condition. In practical scenarios, this vulnerability can lead to service disruption, application crashes, and system instability, especially in environments where image processing occurs continuously or in high-volume scenarios.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating ImageMagick to version 7.0.6-7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory leak in the WritePCXImage function. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing input validation measures that restrict or sanitize image file uploads, particularly for PCX formats. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique, which involves resource exhaustion attacks through memory leaks, emphasizing the need for proper memory management practices in image processing libraries. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in preventing resource exhaustion attacks that can compromise system availability and performance.