CVE-2017-8345 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.5-5, the ReadMNGImage function in png.c allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory leak) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8345 represents a critical memory management flaw within ImageMagick's handling of Multiple Network Graphics files. This issue affects version 7.0.5-5 of the software and stems from improper memory allocation and deallocation practices within the ReadMNGImage function located in the png.c source file. The flaw manifests when the software processes specially crafted MNG files that exploit memory allocation patterns, leading to uncontrolled memory consumption that ultimately results in denial of service conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic memory leak pattern where allocated memory blocks are not properly released back to the system, creating a gradual degradation of system resources over time. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper management of dynamic memory allocation, and represents a significant concern for systems that process untrusted image content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt services through sustained memory consumption. When an attacker crafts a malicious MNG file that triggers the vulnerable code path, the ReadMNGImage function fails to properly manage memory resources during image parsing operations. This results in memory leaks that accumulate over time, potentially causing system instability, application crashes, or complete service unavailability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ImageMagick is used for processing user-uploaded content, as it can be leveraged for remote denial of service attacks without requiring any privileged access or authentication. Systems that rely on ImageMagick for automated image processing or web applications that accept image uploads become prime targets for exploitation, as the memory leak can be triggered repeatedly through multiple file submissions.
Organizations utilizing ImageMagick in production environments must implement immediate mitigations to protect against this vulnerability, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.3 for resource exhaustion attacks. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided patch that addresses the memory management issue in the png.c file, specifically correcting the memory allocation and deallocation logic within the ReadMNGImage function. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can help prevent exploitation by rejecting malformed MNG files before they reach the vulnerable code path. Security controls should include monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns and implementing rate limiting for image processing operations to prevent abuse. Organizations should also consider deploying network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, as well as maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in image processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of file format parsers to prevent similar issues from arising in other software components.