CVE-2017-14324 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.7-1 Q16, a memory leak vulnerability was found in the function ReadMPCImage in coders/mpc.c, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14324 represents a critical memory leak flaw within ImageMagick's processing pipeline that specifically affects version 7.0.7-1 Q16. This issue manifests in the ReadMPCImage function located within the coders/mpc.c source file, demonstrating how seemingly benign image processing operations can be exploited to create significant system stability issues. The memory leak occurs when the software processes specially crafted image files that trigger improper memory management during the Multi-Picture Format (MPF) image parsing routine. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-401 category of CWE-401: Improper Release of Memory Before Removing Last Reference, which directly addresses memory management deficiencies in software applications. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of resource exhaustion through memory consumption that can be systematically exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise entire systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks. When an attacker successfully triggers the memory leak through a crafted MPC file, the application consumes increasing amounts of memory without proper cleanup, eventually leading to system instability, application crashes, or complete system resource exhaustion. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications and server environments where ImageMagick is commonly used for automated image processing, as it can be exploited through user-uploaded content or file processing workflows. The memory leak operates silently until system resources are completely consumed, making it difficult to detect and mitigate in real-time environments. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001: Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage application flaws to exhaust system resources and cause service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14324 require both immediate patching and operational security measures to protect systems from exploitation. The most effective solution involves upgrading to ImageMagick version 7.0.7-2 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to properly handle memory allocation and deallocation during MPC image processing. Organizations should implement strict file validation and sanitization procedures, particularly for user-uploaded content, and consider implementing file type restrictions to prevent processing of potentially malicious image formats. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and content filtering can help reduce the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, emphasizing that even well-established libraries can contain critical flaws that require continuous security assessment and patch management processes.