CVE-2017-8356 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.5-5, the ReadSUNImage function in sun.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-2017-8356 represents a critical memory management flaw within ImageMagick's SUN image format processing functionality. This issue affects version 7.0.5-5 of the popular image processing library, which is widely used across various platforms and applications for handling multiple image formats. The vulnerability manifests specifically within the ReadSUNImage function located in the sun.c source file, where improper memory handling allows malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted SUN image files. This particular flaw falls under the category of memory leaks as defined by CWE-401, which represents a common class of vulnerabilities where allocated memory is not properly released, leading to progressive resource consumption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when ImageMagick attempts to process a malformed SUN image file that contains specially constructed data structures designed to trigger the memory allocation without subsequent deallocation. When the ReadSUNImage function processes such malicious input, it allocates memory resources but fails to properly manage the cleanup process, resulting in memory leaks that can accumulate over time. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ImageMagick is used as a backend service or processing engine, as the memory leaks can eventually lead to complete system resource exhaustion and denial of service conditions. The attack vector is straightforward yet effective, requiring only that an attacker successfully convinces a target system to process a crafted SUN file, which can occur through various means including web uploads, email attachments, or automated processing workflows.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8356 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can be leveraged in broader attack chains that align with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. Systems utilizing ImageMagick for image processing, including web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms, become vulnerable to resource exhaustion attacks that can severely impact service availability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in cloud environments and multi-tenant systems where memory resources are shared among multiple processes, as a single malicious file can potentially affect system performance or even crash entire services. Additionally, this flaw can be combined with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack scenarios, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on ImageMagick for their image processing workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8356 should focus on immediate remediation through version updates, as the issue was resolved in subsequent releases of ImageMagick. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization measures to prevent processing of untrusted image files, particularly in web-facing applications where user uploads are common. The implementation of resource limits and monitoring systems can help detect and prevent memory exhaustion attacks before they can cause significant damage. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing techniques and restricting ImageMagick's capabilities to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other image format handlers. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of ImageMagick and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent future occurrences of similar memory management flaws.