CVE-2017-14649 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ReadOneJNGImage in coders/png.c in GraphicsMagick version 1.3.26 does not properly validate JNG data, leading to a denial of service (assertion failure in magick/pixel_cache.c, and application crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2024
CVE-2017-14649 represents a critical denial of service vulnerability affecting GraphicsMagick version 1.3.26 through improper validation of JNG image data. This vulnerability resides within the ReadOneJNGImage function located in the coders/png.c file, where the software fails to adequately validate the structure and content of JNG (JPEG Network Graphics) files. The flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted JNG files that contain malformed data, causing the application to encounter an assertion failure in the magick/pixel_cache.c component. This assertion failure ultimately results in an application crash, effectively enabling a denial of service condition that can be exploited by attackers to disrupt services or cause system instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The flaw occurs because GraphicsMagick does not properly validate the boundaries of data structures within JNG files, particularly when handling the pixel cache management component. When the application attempts to process malformed JNG data, it fails to validate the expected data format and size constraints, leading to memory corruption and subsequent assertion failures. This behavior represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that allows attackers to craft malicious input files designed to trigger memory management errors within the application's processing pipeline.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that process untrusted image files, particularly those running GraphicsMagick as part of their image processing workflows. The denial of service impact can affect web applications, content management systems, and image processing services that utilize GraphicsMagick for handling user-uploaded images. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by uploading specially crafted JNG files that, when processed by the vulnerable application, will cause the system to crash and potentially become unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability's exploitability is relatively straightforward since it requires only the ability to upload or process a malicious JNG file, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user uploads are not properly sanitized.
The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the context of broader exploitation chains. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service," and T1203, which involves "Exploitation for Client Execution." While the immediate impact is denial of service, the underlying memory corruption could potentially be leveraged in combination with other vulnerabilities to achieve more severe outcomes such as arbitrary code execution. Organizations using GraphicsMagick should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, file type restrictions, and sandboxed processing environments to prevent exploitation. The most effective immediate remediation involves upgrading to GraphicsMagick version 1.3.27 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly validate JNG data structures and prevent the assertion failures that lead to application crashes.