CVE-2017-15033 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick version 7.0.7-2 contains a memory leak in ReadYUVImage in coders/yuv.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15033 affects ImageMagick version 7.0.7-2 and represents a memory leak condition within the ReadYUVImage function located in the coders/yuv.c source file. This flaw occurs during the processing of YUV formatted image files, which are commonly used in video compression and digital media applications. The memory leak manifests when the software fails to properly release allocated memory resources after processing YUV image data, leading to progressive memory consumption that can ultimately degrade system performance or cause application crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the YUV image reading component of ImageMagick. When the ReadYUVImage function processes malformed or specially crafted YUV files, it allocates memory buffers to store image data but does not consistently free these allocations, particularly in error handling paths or when encountering unexpected file structures. This memory leak behavior creates a condition where repeated processing of YUV images can cause the application to consume increasing amounts of system memory over time, potentially leading to denial of service scenarios where the system becomes unresponsive due to memory exhaustion.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks in environments where ImageMagick is used for automated image processing, web applications, or content management systems that handle user-uploaded media files. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by submitting malicious YUV files to trigger the memory leak condition, potentially causing service disruption or resource exhaustion on servers processing image uploads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper release of memory, and represents a classic example of memory management flaws that can be exploited in resource exhaustion attacks. The impact extends beyond simple performance degradation to potential system instability, particularly in constrained environments where memory resources are limited.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15033 primarily involve upgrading to a patched version of ImageMagick where the memory leak has been resolved through proper memory management implementation. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to restrict YUV file processing and monitor memory usage patterns in applications that utilize ImageMagick. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious image file uploads, implementing resource limits on image processing services, and conducting regular security assessments of image handling components within applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated memory monitoring systems to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in multimedia processing libraries and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, which covers resource exhaustion attacks that can be facilitated by memory leak vulnerabilities in software components.