CVE-2019-7397 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
In ImageMagick before 7.0.8-25, several memory leaks exist in WritePDFImage in coders/pdf.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7397 affects ImageMagick versions prior to 7.0.8-25 and specifically targets memory management flaws within the PDF writing functionality. This issue resides in the coders/pdf.c file where the WritePDFImage function fails to properly handle memory allocation and deallocation during PDF generation processes. The memory leaks occur when processing certain PDF-related operations, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit resource exhaustion conditions that could lead to system instability or denial of service scenarios.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability represents a classic memory leak pattern that falls under CWE-401, which specifically addresses memory leaks in software systems. The flaw manifests when ImageMagick attempts to write PDF images and fails to release allocated memory blocks properly, resulting in gradual memory consumption that can escalate to complete system resource exhaustion. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the core image processing pipeline where memory management errors can compound rapidly during high-volume processing scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7397 extends beyond simple resource consumption issues, as it can be leveraged in various attack vectors within the broader ATT&CK framework. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability through file upload mechanisms in web applications that utilize ImageMagick for image processing, leading to denial of service conditions that affect availability. Additionally, the memory leak characteristics could be combined with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack chains, particularly in environments where ImageMagick is used as part of automated processing workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to ImageMagick version 7.0.8-25 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for memory consumption patterns in systems utilizing ImageMagick, particularly during PDF generation operations. Network segmentation and input validation measures should be enhanced to limit potential exploitation pathways, while regular security assessments should verify that all ImageMagick installations have been updated to patched versions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing automated patch management processes to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the software ecosystem.