CVE-2017-13063 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
GraphicsMagick 1.3.26 has a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the function GetStyleTokens in coders/svg.c:314:12.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2022
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13063 resides within GraphicsMagick version 1.3.26, specifically within the GetStyleTokens function located in the coders/svg.c source file at line 314. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited through improper input handling when processing svg image files. The issue manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries in heap-allocated storage. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to arbitrary code execution or application crashes that may be exploited for denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the GetStyleTokens function that processes svg style attributes. When GraphicsMagick parses svg files containing specially crafted malicious style tokens, the function fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into heap-allocated buffers. This deficiency allows attackers to overflow the allocated buffer space and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in memory management where data written to heap memory exceeds the allocated buffer size.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across various systems that utilize GraphicsMagick for image processing, particularly those handling untrusted svg content from web applications, email attachments, or file upload systems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious svg files that trigger the buffer overflow during image parsing, potentially leading to remote code execution on systems running vulnerable versions of GraphicsMagick. The attack surface is significant given the widespread use of GraphicsMagick in web applications, content management systems, and image processing pipelines that may process user-uploaded svg files without proper sanitization. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation or code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13063 primarily involve immediate patching of GraphicsMagick to version 1.3.27 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow issue. Organizations should also implement input validation measures that restrict svg file processing to trusted sources and employ sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious svg files before they reach the GraphicsMagick processing layer. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory allocation patterns and potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in preventing heap-based buffer overflow exploits that can compromise entire systems.