CVE-2019-12974 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An opportunity for a NULL pointer dereference is present in the ReadPANGOImage function within the pango.c file and the ReadVIDImage function within the vid.c file of ImageMagick version 7.0.8-34. This vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt the service by utilizing a manipulated image.

Understanding CVE-2019-12974

This CVE involves a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in ImageMagick version 7.0.8-34.

What is CVE-2019-12974?

A NULL pointer dereference in the function ReadPANGOImage in coders/pango.c and the function ReadVIDImage in coders/vid.c in ImageMagick 7.0.8-34 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted image.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12974

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt services by using a manipulated image.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12974

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the ReadPANGOImage and ReadVIDImage functions in ImageMagick version 7.0.8-34, leading to a NULL pointer dereference.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: ImageMagick 7.0.8-34

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by using a specially crafted image to trigger the NULL pointer dereference.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-12974 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ImageMagick to a non-vulnerable version.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Refer to official vendor advisories and security updates to patch the vulnerability in ImageMagick.