CVE-2019-10131 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
An off-by-one read vulnerability was discovered in ImageMagick before version 7.0.7-28 in the formatIPTCfromBuffer function in coders/meta.c. A local attacker may use this flaw to read beyond the end of the buffer or to crash the program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10131 represents a critical off-by-one read flaw within ImageMagick's IPTC metadata processing functionality. This issue exists in the formatIPTCfromBuffer function located in the coders/meta.c source file, affecting all versions prior to 7.0.7-28. The flaw manifests when the software processes IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) metadata embedded within image files, specifically during the buffer boundary checking operations that govern how metadata is parsed and interpreted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds validation during buffer processing, where the application fails to correctly verify memory boundaries when reading IPTC metadata. This off-by-one error allows an attacker to access memory locations that should remain protected, potentially reading data beyond the intended buffer limits. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an "Improper Validation of Array Index" and specifically relates to buffer over-read conditions that can lead to information disclosure or application instability. When exploited, this flaw can cause the application to access invalid memory addresses, potentially resulting in program crashes or more severe memory corruption that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as local attackers with the ability to submit crafted image files to ImageMagick processing can potentially trigger the flaw. This creates a significant risk in environments where ImageMagick is used to process untrusted image content, such as web applications, content management systems, or file upload functionalities. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based file uploads, automated image processing pipelines, or any scenario where the software handles user-provided image files containing malicious IPTC metadata. The crash potential represents a denial-of-service risk, while the ability to read beyond buffer boundaries could expose sensitive memory contents, including stack data, heap information, or other application secrets that might aid in more sophisticated exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10131 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to ImageMagick 7.0.7-28 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer boundary validation issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing ImageMagick are updated promptly, particularly those handling untrusted image content. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for image files, deploying sandboxing mechanisms around image processing operations, and configuring application-level restrictions that limit the metadata processing capabilities when dealing with untrusted content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and boundary checking in image processing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through image processing tools. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal memory access patterns and crash reports that may indicate exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and least-privilege access controls can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.