CVE-2014-8355 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
PCX parser code in ImageMagick before 6.8.9-9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2014-8355 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the PCX image parser implementation of ImageMagick versions prior to 6.8.9-9. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the image processing pipeline when handling specially crafted PCX format files. The flaw specifically affects the parsing logic that processes PCX file headers and pixel data structures, where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious PCX files that contain malformed header values or incorrect data size indicators, causing the parser to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of PCX file structure elements such as image dimensions, color palette entries, or compression parameters. When ImageMagick attempts to parse these malformed elements, the parser code performs arithmetic operations on user-supplied values without adequate bounds checking, leading to memory access violations. This out-of-bounds read can result in application crashes, segmentation faults, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the memory layout and adjacent data structures. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an insufficient boundary check and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for process injection and T1499 for endpoint denial of service.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8355 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can be leveraged in broader attack chains targeting web applications and services that utilize ImageMagick for image processing. Systems processing untrusted image uploads, such as content management systems, file sharing platforms, or social media applications, become vulnerable to remote exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated image processing workflows exist, as attackers can craft malicious files that cause cascading failures across multiple service components. Network-based attacks can be executed without requiring authentication or privileged access, making this a significant threat vector for automated exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8355 primarily focus on immediate software updates and implementation of defensive measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to ImageMagick version 6.8.9-9 or later, which includes patches addressing the boundary checking deficiencies in PCX parser code. Additionally, implementing input validation controls at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection, including file format verification, size restrictions, and sandboxed processing environments. Network-level controls such as content filtering and image validation proxies can further reduce exposure by blocking suspicious file uploads before they reach the core processing systems. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal memory access patterns and process termination events that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of image format parsers against malformed inputs.