CVE-2017-5510 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/psd.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted PSD file, which triggers an out-of-bounds write.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5510 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the coders/psd.c component responsible for handling Photoshop Document format files. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability through the careful crafting of malicious PSD files. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when ImageMagick processes specially constructed Photoshop files, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite memory regions beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. Such out-of-bounds write conditions are particularly dangerous because they can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or even full system compromise depending on the execution environment and memory layout. The vulnerability affects numerous applications that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks, including web applications, content management systems, and server-side image handling services that accept user-uploaded images.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the PSD file parser implementation. When ImageMagick encounters a malformed PSD file, the coders/psd.c module fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before performing memory writes. This allows an attacker to craft a PSD file with maliciously constructed data structures that cause the parser to write data beyond the intended memory boundaries. The out-of-bounds write can potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations including function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program state information. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as an 'Stack-based Buffer Overflow' or CWE-787 as an 'Out-of-bounds Write', both of which are classified as high-severity issues in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 'Exploitation for Client Execution' as it enables remote code execution through client-side image processing applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5510 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass potential full system compromise in vulnerable environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on systems running affected versions of ImageMagick, particularly those that process untrusted image files from web applications or user uploads. The vulnerability is especially concerning in web server environments where ImageMagick is used for image conversion and processing, as it provides an attack surface that can be exploited through simple file uploads or image manipulation requests. Systems running older versions of ImageMagick or applications that do not properly validate image file inputs are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to attempt exploitation, making it a significant threat vector for automated attacks. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments should consider this vulnerability as a critical security concern requiring immediate remediation through software updates or alternative image processing solutions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5510 should focus on immediate software updates to patched versions of ImageMagick where available, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and file type checking mechanisms. Organizations should consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious image file uploads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing strict file format validation, limiting image processing capabilities to trusted sources, and using sandboxed execution environments for image processing operations can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign image processing libraries can contain critical security flaws that impact entire application ecosystems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and prevent the delivery of malicious image files to vulnerable applications. Regular security training for development teams regarding secure coding practices and input validation is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in custom applications that may utilize ImageMagick or similar libraries.