CVE-2019-12921 in GraphicsMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In GraphicsMagick before 1.3.32, the text filename component allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a crafted image because of TranslateTextEx for SVG.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12921 represents a critical security flaw in GraphicsMagick versions prior to 1.3.32 that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the system through crafted image files. This vulnerability specifically affects the text filename component within GraphicsMagick's processing capabilities, creating a path traversal condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The issue stems from the TranslateTextEx function when handling Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) files, which allows attackers to manipulate file paths and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of SVG image files that contain text elements with specially crafted filename references. When GraphicsMagick processes these malicious SVG files, the TranslateTextEx function fails to properly validate or sanitize the filename components, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that can be resolved and accessed by the application. This creates a directory traversal condition where the application attempts to read files from locations outside of its intended scope, potentially exposing system files, configuration data, or sensitive information stored on the server.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running GraphicsMagick, particularly those that process user-uploaded images or serve web content with image processing capabilities. Attackers can exploit this flaw to read system files such as configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive data that might be stored in accessible locations. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications and services that process external image uploads. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers could potentially gather intelligence about the system architecture, identify other vulnerabilities, or access credentials that could lead to further compromise.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw also relates to the ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through directory listing and file access operations. Organizations using GraphicsMagick should immediately implement mitigations including updating to version 1.3.32 or later, implementing strict input validation for image files, and configuring proper access controls to limit file system access. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and validation in image processing libraries, as well as the need for comprehensive security testing of file handling components in multimedia applications.