CVE-2014-1564 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 32.0, Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.1, and Thunderbird 31.x before 31.1 do not properly initialize memory for GIF rendering, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via crafted web script that interacts with a CANVAS element associated with a malformed GIF image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1564 represents a critical memory initialization flaw within Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications that affects versions prior to 32.0, Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.1, and Thunderbird 31.x before 31.1. This issue stems from improper memory handling during GIF image rendering processes, creating a potential information disclosure vulnerability that could be exploited by remote attackers. The flaw specifically manifests when web scripts interact with CANVAS elements that reference malformed GIF images, allowing adversaries to extract sensitive data from process memory through carefully crafted web content.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations beyond allocated buffers. During GIF rendering operations, Firefox fails to properly initialize memory regions before processing image data, leaving uninitialized memory contents accessible to malicious scripts. When a CANVAS element processes a malformed GIF image, the uninitialized memory segments may contain residual data from previous operations, including potentially sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system memory contents. This memory leakage occurs because the application does not adequately clear or initialize memory regions before reuse, creating a pathway for information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1564 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to process memory that could contain critical system data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious web pages that contain specially formatted GIF images designed to trigger the memory initialization flaw. When users view these pages in affected browsers, the CANVAS element processing causes the uninitialized memory to be exposed through JavaScript APIs, enabling extraction of sensitive information that could be used for further attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on canvas-based image processing and could potentially compromise user sessions, system integrity, or confidential data stored in memory.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for script-based execution and T1005 for data from local system. The attack chain typically involves delivering malicious web content through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, where users' browsers automatically process the malformed GIF images through CANVAS elements. Security professionals should consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious image processing patterns, while also ensuring prompt patch deployment across all affected browser installations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in browser applications and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and memory initialization routines in multimedia processing components. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and consider monitoring for suspicious web content that might exploit this memory initialization weakness during image rendering operations.
This vulnerability type represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can be addressed through proper input validation, secure coding practices, and regular security assessments of browser components. The flaw underscores the critical importance of memory initialization in preventing information disclosure attacks and emphasizes the need for robust testing procedures that include memory safety validation during multimedia processing operations.