CVE-2017-15218 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 7.0.7-2 has a memory leak in ReadOneJNGImage in coders/png.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15218 represents a critical memory leak flaw within ImageMagick version 7.0.7-2, specifically affecting the ReadOneJNGImage function located in the coders/png.c source file. This issue manifests when processing JPEG Network Graphics JNG image files, which are a variant of the jpeg format that supports transparency and animation. The memory leak occurs during the parsing and interpretation of JNG image data structures, where the application fails to properly release allocated memory resources after processing incomplete or malformed image sequences. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory management flaws that can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability, particularly when the application processes multiple image files or handles large image datasets.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory allocation and deallocation practices within the JNG image parsing logic. When ImageMagick encounters a JNG file, it attempts to parse the image header and associated metadata to construct internal data structures for rendering. The ReadOneJNGImage function does not adequately handle error conditions or malformed input data, leading to allocated memory blocks that remain unreleased even when processing terminates prematurely. This memory leak can be exploited through crafted malicious JNG files that trigger the vulnerable code path, potentially causing progressive memory consumption that degrades system performance or leads to application crashes. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper management of memory allocation and deallocation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through image processing utilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it can be leveraged in various attack scenarios including denial of service attacks against web applications, file processing services, or content management systems that utilize ImageMagick for image handling. When exploited in web environments, attackers can submit malicious JNG files to trigger memory leaks in image processing pipelines, potentially causing servers to consume excessive memory resources and eventually become unresponsive. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automated processing environments where batch operations or continuous image ingestion occurs, as the cumulative effect of memory leaks can lead to system instability, application crashes, or complete service outages. Organizations relying on ImageMagick for image processing workflows face significant risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched, especially in high-volume or mission-critical applications where system reliability is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15218 require immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations to version 7.0.7-3 or later, which contains the necessary code fixes to properly handle memory allocation and deallocation during JNG image processing. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of memory usage patterns in image processing services to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where external users can upload image files. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file format validation, limiting image processing timeouts, and deploying sandboxed environments for image handling operations. Network-level protections such as content filtering and image validation proxies can further reduce exposure by preventing potentially malicious JNG files from reaching vulnerable processing systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes and regular security assessments to ensure all image processing components remain up-to-date with the latest security fixes and mitigations against similar vulnerabilities in the broader ImageMagick codebase.