CVE-2017-13132 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.6-8, the WritePDFImage function in coders/pdf.c operates on an incorrect data structure in the "dump uncompressed PseudoColor packets" step, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure in WriteBlobStream in MagickCore/blob.c) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13132 represents a critical denial of service flaw within ImageMagick version 7.0.6-8, specifically affecting the PDF writing functionality. This issue stems from improper handling of data structures during the processing of pseudo-color packets in PDF output generation, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted input files can trigger system instability and service disruption.
The technical root cause resides in the WritePDFImage function located within the coders/pdf.c source file, where an incorrect data structure is manipulated during the "dump uncompressed PseudoColor packets" phase of PDF generation. This flaw manifests as an assertion failure within the WriteBlobStream function found in MagickCore/blob.c, demonstrating a classic buffer overread or memory corruption vulnerability. The improper data structure handling occurs when ImageMagick attempts to process and serialize color information from pseudo-color image formats into PDF documents, creating a scenario where the application's internal state becomes corrupted during file processing operations.
This vulnerability operates under the context of image processing software that handles multiple file formats including PDF, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted image files. The denial of service impact means that an attacker can cause the application to crash or become unresponsive simply by providing a specially crafted input file, effectively rendering the image processing service unavailable to legitimate users. The attack vector requires only the ability to submit a malicious file to the vulnerable application, making it accessible to attackers with minimal privileges.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical example of improper input validation in multimedia processing libraries. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, as the vulnerability can be exploited to disrupt services without requiring elevated privileges. The flaw demonstrates the inherent risks in complex multimedia processing libraries where multiple data formats must be handled with proper memory management and input validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13132 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect critical infrastructure that relies on ImageMagick for document processing tasks. Organizations using ImageMagick in web applications, automated processing pipelines, or content management systems face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited through various attack surfaces including file upload mechanisms, automated processing queues, and web-based image manipulation services. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges and can be executed through standard file processing workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of ImageMagick to version 7.0.6-9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the data structure handling in the PDF writing component. Organizations should also implement input validation controls, restrict file upload capabilities, and employ sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while network segmentation can help limit the potential blast radius of successful attacks. The fix addresses the core memory management issue by properly validating data structures before processing and implementing appropriate bounds checking during pseudo-color packet handling operations.