CVE-2018-17967 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 7.0.7-28 has a memory leak vulnerability in ReadBGRImage in coders/bgr.c.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17967 represents a critical memory leak flaw within ImageMagick version 7.0.7-28, specifically affecting the ReadBGRImage function located in the coders/bgr.c source file. This memory leak occurs during the processing of BGR image format files, which are commonly used in various digital imaging applications and systems. The flaw manifests when the software fails to properly release allocated memory resources after processing BGR image data, leading to gradual memory consumption that can ultimately result in system instability or denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the image processing pipeline. When ImageMagick attempts to read BGR formatted image files, the ReadBGRImage function allocates memory to store image data but does not consistently free this memory upon function completion or error conditions. This memory allocation pattern creates a persistent memory leak that accumulates over time, particularly when the software processes multiple BGR images or when the vulnerability is exploited through repeated processing cycles. The flaw aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper release of memory after its lifetime, making it a classic example of memory management failure in software systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because BGR format files are widely used in computer vision applications, digital photography workflows, and various multimedia systems where ImageMagick serves as a core processing component.
The operational impact of this memory leak vulnerability extends beyond simple resource consumption, creating significant risks for systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by submitting maliciously crafted BGR image files that trigger the memory leak during processing, potentially causing denial of service conditions on vulnerable systems. The cumulative nature of the memory leak means that systems processing multiple images over time will gradually experience performance degradation until complete system exhaustion occurs. This vulnerability affects not only individual user systems but also server environments where ImageMagick is used for batch processing, web applications, or automated image handling workflows. Organizations running systems that process external image uploads or perform automated image analysis operations face heightened risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple file upload mechanisms without requiring special privileges or advanced attack techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17967 involve immediate patching of ImageMagick installations to versions that address the memory management issue in the ReadBGRImage function. System administrators should prioritize updating to ImageMagick version 7.0.8-1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this memory leak vulnerability. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce exposure by filtering or rejecting potentially malicious BGR image files before they reach the vulnerable processing functions. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of systems running ImageMagick to only trusted sources. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in image processing libraries and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service through resource exhaustion. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms or containerization for image processing operations to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar memory management issues in other software components that handle image processing or file format parsing operations.