CVE-2017-13144 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick before 6.9.7-10, there is a crash (rather than a "width or height exceeds limit" error report) if the image dimensions are too large, as demonstrated by use of the mpc coder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13144 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition within ImageMagick's handling of image data, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.9.7-10. This flaw manifests when the software processes image files with dimensions that exceed predetermined limits, creating a scenario where the application fails to properly validate input parameters before attempting to allocate memory for image processing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it triggers an unexpected crash rather than a graceful error handling mechanism, which can lead to denial of service conditions and potentially provide attackers with opportunities for more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the mpc coder component of ImageMagick, which is responsible for handling Magick Persistent Cache format files. When processing malformed image data with excessively large dimensions, the software fails to properly validate the width and height parameters against established limits, allowing malicious input to bypass normal bounds checking mechanisms. This oversight results in improper memory allocation where the application attempts to allocate heap memory based on invalid dimension values, leading to buffer overflows that can cause application crashes or potentially allow for memory corruption. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and error handling procedures that should have been implemented to prevent such scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that process untrusted image files, particularly those that rely on ImageMagick for automated image handling workflows. The crash condition can be exploited to cause denial of service attacks against web applications, content management systems, or any service that accepts image uploads and processes them through ImageMagick. Attackers could craft specially malformed image files that trigger the overflow condition, potentially causing service interruptions or system instability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where automated image processing occurs, as it could be leveraged to repeatedly crash services or applications without requiring complex exploitation techniques.
The impact of CVE-2017-13144 aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations utilizing ImageMagick for image processing should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 6.9.7-10 or later, implementing input validation controls, and establishing proper error handling procedures to prevent malformed image data from reaching vulnerable components. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing strict file type validation, and ensuring that all image processing operations are performed within sandboxed environments to limit potential damage from exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in security-sensitive applications, particularly those handling multimedia data processing.