CVE-2021-20244:Division by zero vulnerability in ImageMagick's MagickCore/visual-effects.c could lead to denial of service.

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A vulnerability was discovered in ImageMagick's visual effects component (MagickCore/visual-effects.c) where processing specially crafted image files could trigger a division by zero error. When an attacker submits a maliciously crafted file to be processed by ImageMagick, it can cause undefined behavior due to this mathematical error. This vulnerability primarily impacts system availability, potentially causing application crashes or service disruptions when processing malicious image files.

Overview

CVE-2021-20244 affects the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the visual effects component. The vulnerability exists in the MagickCore/visual-effects.c file where input validation is insufficient to prevent division by zero operations when processing certain crafted image files. When triggered, this vulnerability can cause the application to crash, potentially leading to denial of service conditions. This issue primarily affects applications that use ImageMagick to process untrusted images from external sources. The vulnerability has been addressed in patches and updates released by the ImageMagick project and various Linux distributions.

Remediation

To remediate this vulnerability, system administrators should:

  1. Update ImageMagick to the latest available version that includes the fix for this vulnerability.
  2. Apply the patch from the official ImageMagick GitHub repository (pull request #3194) if direct updating is not possible.
  3. For Debian systems, apply the security updates provided in DLA 2602-1 (for Debian 9) or DLA 3429-1 (for Debian 10).
  4. If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing input validation or sandboxing when processing untrusted images with ImageMagick.
  5. Monitor system logs for potential exploitation attempts or crashes related to ImageMagick image processing.

References

  1. Red Hat Bugzilla: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1928959
  2. ImageMagick GitHub patch: https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/pull/3194
  3. Debian LTS Security Advisory (DLA 2602-1): https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00030.html
  4. Debian LTS Security Advisory (DLA 3429-1): https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00020.html

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Manufacturing
    Manufacturing
  2. Health Care & Social Assistance
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  3. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  4. Educational Services
    Educational Services
  5. Public Administration
    Public Administration
  6. Finance and Insurance
    Finance and Insurance
  7. Retail Trade
    Retail Trade
  8. Transportation & Warehousing
    Transportation & Warehousing
  9. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  10. Management of Companies & Enterprises
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  11. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  12. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  13. Information
    Information
  14. Mining
    Mining
  15. Utilities
    Utilities
  16. Accommodation & Food Services
    Accommodation & Food Services
  17. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  18. Construction
    Construction
  19. Real Estate Rental & Leasing
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  20. Wholesale Trade
    Wholesale Trade

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  2. Identify True Risk.
  3. Proactively Mitigate Threats.

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