CVE-2017-16669 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/wpg.c in GraphicsMagick 1.3.26 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted file, related to the AcquireCacheNexus function in magick/pixel_cache.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16669 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in GraphicsMagick version 1.3.26 that exposes remote attackers to significant system compromise risks. This flaw exists within the wpg.c file responsible for handling WPG (WordPerfect Graphics) image format decoding, specifically when processing maliciously crafted files that trigger the AcquireCacheNexus function in magick/pixel_cache.c. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during memory allocation and data processing operations, creating exploitable conditions that can lead to application instability and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a heap-based buffer overflow occurring when GraphicsMagick attempts to process malformed WPG files through its image decoding pipeline. When a specially crafted WPG file is loaded, the AcquireCacheNexus function fails to properly validate input parameters and buffer sizes, allowing attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This memory corruption manifests as heap corruption that can result in immediate application crashes or more subtle memory management issues that may persist and cause system instability over time. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service, as the heap corruption can potentially be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution through carefully crafted attack vectors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems relying on GraphicsMagick for image processing tasks, particularly those exposed to untrusted input sources such as web applications, file upload systems, or content management platforms. The vulnerability affects systems where GraphicsMagick is used to process image files from external sources, making it particularly dangerous in web environments where users can upload arbitrary files. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause service disruption through application crashes, potentially leading to complete system outages or denial of service conditions that can affect availability and business continuity. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest potential additional security implications beyond the immediate buffer overflow condition.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through patch management procedures, as GraphicsMagick 1.3.26 is no longer supported and requires upgrading to a patched version. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a significant risk under the ATT&CK framework's execution and persistence phases. System administrators should implement input validation controls, restrict file upload capabilities, and deploy network segmentation to limit potential attack surface exposure. Additionally, monitoring for anomalous application behavior and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management practices and input validation in multimedia processing libraries, as these components often handle untrusted data from diverse sources and require robust defensive mechanisms to prevent exploitation.