CVE-2017-9262 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.5-6 Q16, the ReadJNGImage function in coders/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 • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9262 represents a critical memory management flaw within ImageMagick's handling of JPEG 2000 image files. This issue specifically affects version 7.0.5-6 Q16 of the software and manifests through the ReadJNGImage function located in the coders/png.c source file. The flaw enables malicious actors to exploit a memory leak condition by crafting specially designed image files that, when processed by ImageMagick, cause the application to consume excessive memory resources without proper cleanup. This vulnerability falls under the category of denial of service attacks where the primary objective is to exhaust system resources and render the target service unavailable to legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the JPEG 2000 image parsing code. When ImageMagick encounters a malformed or specially crafted JNG file, the ReadJNGImage function fails to properly release allocated memory blocks during the parsing process. This memory leak occurs repeatedly with each malicious file processed, leading to progressive memory consumption that can eventually overwhelm the system's available resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple file processing operations, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. The flaw demonstrates poor resource handling practices that violate fundamental security principles and can be classified under CWE-401 as a failure to release memory resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks. The denial of service condition can be exploited remotely through web applications that accept image uploads, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt services by consuming all available memory on the server. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web environments where automatic image processing is common, such as content management systems, social media platforms, and file sharing services. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to include potential system instability and resource exhaustion that could affect other applications running on the same infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform sustained denial of service attacks that are difficult to detect and mitigate.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation to protect against this vulnerability. Immediate remediation involves upgrading to ImageMagick versions that have addressed this memory leak issue, as newer releases contain proper memory management fixes and defensive coding practices. System administrators should also implement input validation and file type verification mechanisms to prevent processing of suspicious image files, particularly those with unusual extensions or headers. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and content filtering can help reduce the impact of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for denial of service attacks and represents a classic example of how improper resource management can lead to security weaknesses that compromise system availability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing techniques and privilege separation to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to exhaust system resources and potentially impact overall system stability.