CVE-2018-6876 in libfpx
Summary
by MITRE
THe OLEProperty class in ole/oleprop.cpp in libfpx 1.3.1-10, as used in ImageMagick 7.0.7-22 Q16 and other products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer under-read) via a crafted bmp image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6876 represents a critical stack-based buffer under-read flaw within the OLEProperty class implementation in libfpx version 1.3.1-10. This issue specifically affects ImageMagick 7.0.7-22 Q16 and other software products that utilize this library component. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and boundary checking during the processing of crafted bmp image files, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the flaw to trigger a denial of service condition. The underlying technical mechanism involves the OLEProperty class attempting to read from memory locations that lie outside the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it enables remote attackers to craft malicious bmp images that, when processed by vulnerable applications, cause the target system to crash or become unresponsive. This type of attack falls under the category of denial of service attacks and can be particularly damaging in environments where image processing services are critical to business operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can convince a victim to process a specially crafted image file through a vulnerable application. The buffer under-read condition creates potential for information disclosure, system instability, and complete service interruption, depending on how the underlying system handles the memory access violation.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of improper input validation and memory safety issues that align with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions in software implementations. The attack vector is consistent with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499.004 subtechnique for "Network Denial of Service" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution" when considering how malicious image files can be delivered to vulnerable systems. Organizations using affected software should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of input validation measures to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability can be triggered through standard image processing workflows without requiring specialized attack capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of vendor patches for libfpx and ImageMagick versions, implementation of strict input validation for image files, and deployment of network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious image file processing activities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting image processing capabilities in high-security environments where the risk of exploitation is elevated. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive memory safety practices in image processing libraries and highlights the need for regular security assessments of third-party components used in critical applications.