CVE-2017-9141 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.5-7 Q16, a crafted file could trigger an assertion failure in the ResetImageProfileIterator function in MagickCore/profile.c because of missing checks in the ReadDDSImage function in coders/dds.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9141 represents a critical assertion failure within ImageMagick's image processing pipeline that can be exploited through maliciously crafted image files. This flaw exists in ImageMagick version 7.0.5-7 Q16 and specifically targets the interaction between two core components during image file parsing operations. The issue manifests when the system attempts to process certain DDS (Direct Draw Surface) image files that contain malformed or specially constructed data patterns. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the ReadDDSImage function located in the coders/dds.c file, which fails to properly validate profile data before attempting to process it through the ResetImageProfileIterator function in MagickCore/profile.c.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious DDS file that contains malformed profile information or unexpected data structures. During the image parsing process, the ReadDDSImage function does not perform adequate validation checks on the incoming profile data, allowing malformed input to propagate unchecked into the ResetImageProfileIterator function. This function then encounters an assertion failure when it attempts to process the invalid profile data, leading to a potential denial of service condition or, in more sophisticated attack scenarios, arbitrary code execution. The assertion failure represents a fundamental breakdown in the software's error handling mechanism, where the system fails to gracefully handle malformed input data and instead crashes or behaves unpredictably.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process untrusted image files from external sources. Web applications, content management systems, and file processing services that utilize ImageMagick for image manipulation are particularly vulnerable to this attack vector. The assertion failure can result in complete service disruption, allowing attackers to perform denial of service attacks against systems processing image files. Additionally, the vulnerability may be exploitable in conjunction with other memory corruption issues, potentially enabling more sophisticated attack techniques. Security researchers have noted that this type of assertion failure can be leveraged to bypass security controls or to establish a foothold for further exploitation within compromised systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-617, which addresses reachable assertions, and represents a classic example of inadequate input validation in security-critical software components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1203, which involves legitimate user access to systems, and potentially T1059, where adversaries may execute malicious code through compromised applications. The attack surface extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential privilege escalation scenarios, especially in environments where ImageMagick is used with elevated privileges or in automated processing pipelines. Organizations should consider implementing strict file validation and sandboxing measures around image processing functions to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected ImageMagick versions, implementing strict input validation for all image file processing, and deploying sandboxed environments for image handling operations. Organizations should also consider implementing file type whitelisting and automated scanning for potentially malicious image files. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patched versions properly handle all valid image formats while maintaining security against previously identified attack vectors. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other image processing libraries and software components that may present similar attack surfaces.