CVE-2018-5246 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

ImageMagick version 7.0.7-17 Q16 is affected by memory leaks in the ReadPATTERNImage function, which can lead to potential security vulnerabilities.

Understanding CVE-2018-5246

Memory leaks have been discovered in the ReadPATTERNImage function located in the coders/pattern.c file of ImageMagick version 7.0.7-17 Q16.

What is CVE-2018-5246?

In ImageMagick 7.0.7-17 Q16, there are memory leaks in ReadPATTERNImage in coders/pattern.c.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5246

The memory leaks in ImageMagick can potentially be exploited by attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5246

ImageMagick version 7.0.7-17 Q16 is susceptible to memory leaks in the ReadPATTERNImage function.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper memory handling in the ReadPATTERNImage function, leading to memory leaks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: ImageMagick
Vendor: N/A
Version: 7.0.7-17 Q16

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the memory leaks in ImageMagick to potentially launch denial of service attacks or execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2018-5246.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ImageMagick to a patched version that addresses the memory leaks.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper input validation and secure coding practices to mitigate memory-related vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that ImageMagick is regularly updated to the latest version to patch any known security vulnerabilities.