CVE-2018-15607 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick 7.0.8-11 Q16, a tiny input file 0x50 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x4c 0x36 0x38 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x1f 0x35 0x50 0x00 can result in a hang of several minutes during which CPU and memory resources are consumed until ultimately an attempted large memory allocation fails. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial of service via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2023
This vulnerability in ImageMagick 7.0.8-11 represents a critical denial of service flaw that demonstrates the dangers of improper input validation in image processing libraries. The issue manifests when processing a specially crafted input file containing the byte sequence 0x50 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x4c 0x36 0x38 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x36 0x1f 0x35 0x50 0x00 which causes the software to enter an extended processing loop. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and resource exhaustion, creating a scenario where legitimate system resources become consumed without proper termination conditions. This type of flaw falls under CWE-400 which specifically addresses resource exhaustion vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how seemingly benign input can trigger catastrophic system behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the image parsing logic within ImageMagick's quantum processing system, where the malformed data sequence triggers an infinite loop or extremely long processing cycle. During this period, the system consumes substantial CPU cycles and memory resources as the parser attempts to process what appears to be valid image data but actually contains malformed instructions that cause the processing engine to hang. The vulnerability specifically targets the Q16 version of ImageMagick, indicating that the issue is related to 16-bit quantum processing and how it handles certain boundary conditions in the parsing algorithm. The eventual failure occurs when the system attempts to allocate memory for what should be a simple image operation, but due to the malformed input, the allocation request becomes excessively large.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple service disruption, as it creates a significant risk for remote exploitation in environments where ImageMagick is used to process untrusted input. Attackers can leverage this flaw to consume system resources indefinitely, potentially leading to complete system compromise through resource exhaustion. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications, email systems, or any environment where users can upload or submit image files, as it allows for remote denial of service attacks that can be executed without requiring authentication. Systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick become susceptible to attacks that can cause cascading failures, especially in cloud environments where resource allocation is shared and controlled.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of ImageMagick installations to versions that address the specific parsing logic flaw. Organizations should implement strict input validation and size limits for all image processing operations, particularly when handling untrusted content. The implementation of resource monitoring and automatic process termination mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and application firewalls should be configured to limit access to systems that process image files, reducing the attack surface. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers resource exhaustion attacks, and organizations should consider implementing security controls that monitor for unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated ImageMagick installations to prevent similar issues from arising in other software components.