CVE-2017-14175 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In coders/xbm.c in ImageMagick 7.0.6-1 Q16, a DoS in ReadXBMImage() due to lack of an EOF (End of File) check might cause huge CPU consumption. When a crafted XBM file, which claims large rows and columns fields in the header but does not contain sufficient backing data, is provided, the loop over the rows would consume huge CPU resources, since there is no EOF check inside the loop.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14175 represents a critical denial of service flaw within ImageMagick's XBM image processing functionality. This issue manifests in the ReadXBMImage() function located in coders/xbm.c of ImageMagick version 7.0.6-1 Q16, where the absence of proper end-of-file validation creates a significant operational risk. The flaw operates by exploiting the lack of bounds checking during image parsing, specifically when processing XBM (X BitMap) files that contain malformed header information. When an attacker provides a crafted XBM file with inflated row and column dimensions in the file header but insufficient actual data to support those claimed dimensions, the processing logic enters an infinite or extremely prolonged loop. This behavior directly violates the principle of input validation and demonstrates a classic example of a resource exhaustion vulnerability that can be exploited without requiring authentication or specialized privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper input sanitization within the image parsing loop. When the XBM reader encounters a file header claiming a large number of rows and columns, it initiates a processing loop that iterates based on these claimed dimensions without verifying whether sufficient data exists to support such claims. This flaw directly corresponds to CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array index values, and CWE-770, which covers allocation of resources without proper limits. The processing algorithm fails to implement a robust EOF check mechanism during the row iteration process, allowing maliciously constructed files to trigger excessive CPU utilization. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the software's defensive programming practices, particularly in how it handles malformed input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14175 extends beyond simple resource consumption, representing a potential vector for service disruption attacks. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause significant CPU consumption, potentially leading to system instability or complete service unavailability. The attack requires only the ability to submit a crafted XBM file to an application that utilizes ImageMagick for image processing, making it particularly dangerous in web applications or services that accept user-uploaded content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which describes resource exhaustion attacks, and demonstrates how seemingly benign file format processing can become a critical security concern. The extended processing time can be leveraged to create a denial of service condition that affects legitimate users and can be amplified through automated attack mechanisms that submit multiple malicious files simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14175 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and resource limiting measures. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the official patch released by ImageMagick developers that introduces proper EOF checking within the processing loop. Organizations should also implement rate limiting and resource quotas for image processing operations to prevent single malicious requests from consuming excessive system resources. Additionally, deploying input validation at multiple layers of the application stack, including file format verification and size constraints, can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual CPU consumption patterns during image processing operations, which could indicate exploitation attempts. The fix demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices and proper bounds checking, as recommended in the CERT/CC secure coding guidelines and aligned with industry best practices for preventing resource exhaustion attacks.