CVE-2017-13147 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In GraphicsMagick 1.3.26, an allocation failure vulnerability was found in the function ReadMNGImage in coders/png.c when a small MNG file has a MEND chunk with a large length value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13147 represents a critical memory allocation failure in GraphicsMagick version 1.3.26, specifically within the ReadMNGImage function located in the coders/png.c file. This flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted MNG (Multiple Network Graphics) files that contain a MEND chunk with an inflated length value, creating a scenario where the application attempts to allocate an excessive amount of memory based on the malformed chunk data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the image parsing logic, allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation behavior through carefully constructed file headers.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the MEND chunk within MNG file format specifications, where the chunk length field is deliberately set to an unusually large value that exceeds the actual file size. When GraphicsMagick processes such a file, the ReadMNGImage function interprets this malformed length value and attempts to allocate memory proportional to this inflated size, potentially leading to system resource exhaustion, application crashes, or in severe cases, memory corruption that could enable further exploitation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length fields, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, representing the exploitation of input validation weaknesses in software applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13147 extends beyond simple application instability, as it can be leveraged in denial of service attacks against systems processing MNG images, potentially affecting web servers, image processing services, and any applications that utilize GraphicsMagick for image handling. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated image processing occurs, as malicious MNG files could be uploaded and processed without user interaction, leading to system resource depletion and service disruption. Additionally, the memory allocation failure could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack vectors, though the immediate threat lies in the resource exhaustion and system instability caused by the improper memory handling.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of GraphicsMagick to version 1.3.27 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper bounds checking in MNG file processing. System administrators should implement strict file validation and sanitization processes for all incoming image files, particularly those in MNG format, to prevent malicious files from reaching the processing layer. Network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms should be deployed to isolate image processing functions from critical system resources. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security audits and input validation testing, particularly for multimedia processing libraries that handle complex file formats with extensive header structures and variable-length fields that require careful bounds checking to prevent similar allocation failure scenarios.