CVE-2017-8348 : Security Advisory and Response

ImageMagick version 7.0.5-5 is susceptible to a memory leak denial of service vulnerability triggered by malicious files in the ReadMATImage function.

Understanding CVE-2017-8348

What is CVE-2017-8348?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in ImageMagick version 7.0.5-5 that allows attackers to exploit a memory leak denial of service through a specific function.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8348

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to cause a denial of service by consuming excessive memory resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8348

Vulnerability Description

The ReadMATImage function in mat.c within ImageMagick 7.0.5-5 is the entry point for the memory leak denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: ImageMagick 7.0.5-5

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is triggered by processing specially crafted files that exploit the ReadMATImage function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ImageMagick to a patched version that addresses the memory leak vulnerability.
Avoid opening files from untrusted sources to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for ImageMagick updates and apply them promptly.
Implement file input validation mechanisms to prevent the processing of malicious files.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that ImageMagick is kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.