CVE-2017-17883 : Security Advisory and Response

A memory leak vulnerability in ImageMagick 7.0.7-12 Q16 allows attackers to execute a denial of service attack via a specially crafted PGX image file.

Understanding CVE-2017-17883

This CVE involves a memory leak vulnerability in ImageMagick that can be exploited for a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2017-17883?

ImageMagick 7.0.7-12 Q16 is affected by a memory leak vulnerability in the ReadPGXImage function in coders/pgx.c. Attackers can exploit this flaw using a specially crafted PGX image file to trigger a denial of service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2017-17883

The vulnerability allows attackers to cause a denial of service on systems running the affected version of ImageMagick.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-17883

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A memory leak vulnerability exists in the ReadPGXImage function in coders/pgx.c in ImageMagick 7.0.7-12 Q16, enabling attackers to launch a denial of service attack through a malicious PGX image file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: ImageMagick
Version: 7.0.7-12 Q16

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious PGX image file to trigger the memory leak, leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect systems from CVE-2017-17883 by following these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by ImageMagick promptly.
Restrict access to ImageMagick to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update ImageMagick to the latest version to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious image files.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of patches and updates released by ImageMagick to mitigate the risk of exploitation.