CVE-2014-0190 in Digia
Summary
by MITRE
The GIF decoder in QtGui in Qt before 5.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via invalid width and height values in a GIF image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0190 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the graphical user interface framework of Qt software development toolkit. This issue specifically affects the QtGui module's GIF image decoder component, which is widely utilized across numerous applications and systems that process graphical content. The vulnerability manifests when the decoder encounters malformed GIF image files containing invalid width and height parameters, creating a scenario where the system attempts to dereference a null pointer during the image processing routine. This particular weakness falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is classified as a fundamental programming error that can lead to system instability and service disruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a specially malformed GIF image file with deliberately incorrect width and height values that exceed normal processing boundaries. When the Qt-based application attempts to decode this malformed image through the QtGui module, the GIF decoder fails to properly validate these parameters before proceeding with the decoding process. The system's failure to implement proper input validation creates an execution path where a null pointer is accessed, leading to an immediate application crash or system hang. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service attack vector that can be leveraged by remote unauthenticated attackers to disrupt services without requiring any special privileges or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0190 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass broader system stability concerns within environments that rely heavily on Qt-based applications. Many enterprise systems, web browsers, and multimedia applications utilize Qt's QtGui framework for handling various image formats including GIF, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments. The vulnerability affects all Qt versions prior to 5.3, meaning that organizations running older versions of Qt-based software are at significant risk of experiencing service disruptions. The attack surface is particularly large as numerous applications including web browsers, media players, and desktop applications that process user-uploaded content are potentially vulnerable to this attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0190 primarily focus on upgrading to Qt version 5.3 or later, which includes proper input validation and error handling within the GIF decoder module. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Qt-based applications are updated to secure versions. Additionally, implementing input validation at multiple layers of the application stack can provide defense-in-depth protection against malformed image files. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering mechanisms that scan and validate image uploads before processing them through Qt-based applications. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service provides guidance for security teams to monitor for suspicious image file uploads and implement appropriate network traffic controls to prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs despite preventive measures.