CVE-2019-7175 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick before 7.0.8-25, some memory leaks exist in DecodeImage in coders/pcd.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7175 represents a critical memory management flaw within ImageMagick's image processing library, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.0.8-25. This issue manifests in the DecodeImage function located within the coders/pcd.c source file, which handles the decoding of PCD (Photo CD) image format files. The memory leaks occur during the processing of malformed or specially crafted PCD image files, creating a potential avenue for resource exhaustion attacks that could impact systems relying on ImageMagick for image handling operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the PCD decoder implementation. When ImageMagick processes PCD files, the DecodeImage function fails to properly release allocated memory blocks under certain error conditions or when encountering malformed input data. This memory leak pattern represents a classic example of insufficient resource cleanup, which falls under the CWE-401 category of Unchecked Return Value to NULL. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the decoding process when the system allocates memory for image data structures but does not consistently free this memory when processing malformed inputs, leading to progressive memory consumption over time.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7175 extends beyond simple resource waste, creating potential denial of service scenarios that could be exploited by malicious actors. Systems that process untrusted image files, such as web applications, content management systems, or image processing services, become vulnerable to memory exhaustion attacks where repeated processing of malicious PCD files could cause applications to consume all available memory resources. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where ImageMagick is used for automated image processing, as it could enable attackers to cause system instability or complete service disruption through sustained memory consumption attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to ImageMagick 7.0.8-25 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory leak conditions in the PCD decoder. Organizations should also implement input validation measures, including file type checking and content scanning, to prevent processing of potentially malicious image files. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing resource limits and monitoring for memory usage patterns in applications that utilize ImageMagick, as part of broader security hardening practices. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion, where adversaries exploit memory leaks to consume system resources and cause denial of service conditions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for ImageMagick installations to ensure compliance with the patched versions and prevent exploitation of this memory management flaw.