CVE-2019-16712 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
ImageMagick 7.0.8-43 has a memory leak in Huffman2DEncodeImage in coders/ps3.c, as demonstrated by WritePS3Image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
CVE-2019-16712 represents a memory leak vulnerability affecting ImageMagick version 7.0.8-43 within the Huffman2DEncodeImage function located in the coders/ps3.c file. This flaw specifically manifests when processing PostScript 3 images through the WritePS3Image operation, creating a persistent memory consumption issue that can degrade system performance and potentially lead to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management during the Huffman encoding process for two-dimensional data compression, where allocated memory blocks are not properly released after use. This memory leak occurs in the context of image format handling, specifically targeting the PostScript 3 file format coder which is part of ImageMagick's extensive collection of image format support modules.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within CWE-401, which categorizes memory leak issues in software systems. The flaw demonstrates how improper resource management can create persistent memory consumption patterns that accumulate over time, particularly when the vulnerable function processes multiple image files or repeated operations. The Huffman2DEncodeImage function operates as part of the compression pipeline for PostScript 3 images, where it handles two-dimensional data encoding using Huffman coding techniques. When this function fails to release allocated memory segments after completing the encoding process, it creates a gradual memory consumption pattern that can eventually exhaust available system resources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a specific sequence involving image format processing and the particular WritePS3Image operation, making it a targeted issue within the broader ImageMagick codebase rather than a general memory management problem.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-16712 extends beyond simple resource consumption, as it can enable denial of service scenarios in applications that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks. Systems utilizing ImageMagick for automated image handling, web applications processing user uploads, or batch processing environments become vulnerable to gradual memory exhaustion that can cause application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in server environments where multiple image processing operations occur concurrently, as the memory leak can compound rapidly and affect overall system performance. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by submitting specially crafted PostScript 3 images that trigger the memory leak condition repeatedly, leading to progressive resource depletion that affects system availability. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16712 should focus on immediate version upgrades to ImageMagick 7.0.8-44 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory leak in the Huffman2DEncodeImage function. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing ImageMagick receive the security updates promptly. Additionally, implementing resource monitoring and limiting memory consumption for image processing operations can provide defense-in-depth measures. Input validation and sanitization for image file formats can help prevent exploitation by ensuring that only properly formatted files are processed through the vulnerable code paths. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning for vulnerable ImageMagick installations within their environments and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper memory management practices in image processing libraries and highlights the need for thorough testing of compression and encoding functions within multimedia processing frameworks.