CVE-2017-11526 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.9-0 and 7.x prior to 7.0.6-1 are vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to a flaw in the ReadOneMNGImage function.

Understanding CVE-2017-11526

What is CVE-2017-11526?

The vulnerability in the ReadOneMNGImage function in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition by providing a manipulated file, leading to excessive CPU usage.

The Impact of CVE-2017-11526

Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a significant loop and high CPU consumption, potentially causing a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-11526

Vulnerability Description

The ReadOneMNGImage function in coders/png.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.9-0 and 7.x before 7.0.6-1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by exploiting a crafted file.

Affected Systems and Versions

ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.9-0
ImageMagick 7.x versions prior to 7.0.6-1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by providing a manipulated file to the ReadOneMNGImage function, resulting in a denial of service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ImageMagick to version 6.9.9-0 or 7.0.6-1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network security measures to restrict access to the affected systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and apply security patches for ImageMagick and other software components.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from ImageMagick and apply patches promptly to protect against known vulnerabilities.