CVE-2019-12978 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 7.0.8-34 has a "use of uninitialized value" vulnerability in the ReadPANGOImage function in coders/pango.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12978 represents a critical memory safety issue within ImageMagick's PANGO image processing functionality. This flaw exists in version 7.0.8-34 of the popular image manipulation library, which is widely used across various platforms and applications for handling multiple image formats. The vulnerability specifically manifests within the ReadPANGOImage function located in the coders/pango.c source file, indicating a fundamental issue in how the software manages memory allocation and initialization during PANGO text rendering operations. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation by malicious actors who might craft specially crafted image files to trigger the flaw.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of uninitialized memory values within the PANGO image reading process. When ImageMagick processes images that contain PANGO text elements, the ReadPANGOImage function attempts to read and render text content without ensuring that all memory locations have been properly initialized. This uninitialized value usage creates a potential pathway for information disclosure, denial of service, or even remote code execution depending on the specific exploitation context. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-457 category of "Use of Uninitialized Variable" which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently flagged as a high-risk problem in software development practices. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming where the application fails to validate or initialize memory before use, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents or extract sensitive information from uninitialized memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple image processing failures, as ImageMagick is integrated into numerous applications, content management systems, web servers, and security tools that handle user-uploaded images. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by uploading maliciously crafted image files that contain PANGO text elements designed to trigger the uninitialized memory access during processing. The consequences could range from denial of service attacks that crash applications to more severe exploitation scenarios where attackers might be able to extract memory contents or potentially execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that process user-uploaded images, as it creates an attack surface where remote adversaries can trigger the flaw through crafted image files, making it a significant concern for organizations running web services that accept image uploads from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12978 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations to version 7.0.8-35 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the uninitialized memory handling issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures for all image uploads, particularly focusing on PANGO text elements within image files. The implementation of secure coding practices including memory initialization checks and proper resource management should be enforced throughout the application stack. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick and ensure proper monitoring for exploitation attempts that may target this specific memory safety issue. The remediation process should include not only patching but also implementing proper application hardening measures and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle memory safety vulnerabilities in image processing libraries.