CVE-2017-18219 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GraphicsMagick 1.3.26. An allocation failure vulnerability was found in the function ReadOnePNGImage in coders/png.c, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted file that triggers an attempt at a large png_pixels array allocation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18219 represents a critical denial of service weakness within GraphicsMagick version 1.3.26, specifically manifesting in the ReadOnePNGImage function located in the coders/png.c source file. This flaw constitutes an allocation failure vulnerability that exploits the improper handling of memory allocation requests during PNG image processing operations. The vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted PNG file is processed by the GraphicsMagick library, triggering an attempt to allocate an excessively large png_pixels array that exceeds available system resources.
This memory allocation failure vulnerability falls under the CWE-704 classification as a weakness related to improper handling of memory allocation operations, specifically manifesting as an insufficient resource allocation scenario. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-401, which addresses improper handling of memory allocation failures, and CWE-129, concerning the validation of input boundaries during array access operations. The flaw operates by manipulating the image parsing logic to request memory allocations that are either excessively large or improperly bounded, leading to system resource exhaustion during the image processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services that depend on GraphicsMagick for image processing capabilities. When exploited, the vulnerability allows adversaries to consume excessive system resources or trigger memory allocation failures that cause the application to crash or become unresponsive. This makes it particularly dangerous in server environments where GraphicsMagick is used for handling user-uploaded content, as it could enable attackers to perform resource exhaustion attacks against critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications and content management systems that process PNG images without proper input validation.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves resource exhaustion attacks through manipulation of memory allocation behaviors. The flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including file upload mechanisms, web application interfaces, and automated processing pipelines that utilize GraphicsMagick for image conversion tasks. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation for image files, establishing memory allocation limits during image processing, and deploying automated monitoring systems to detect unusual resource consumption patterns. Additionally, organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of GraphicsMagick, implementing sandboxed processing environments, and utilizing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization to reduce the exploitability of such allocation failure vulnerabilities.