CVE-2014-9495 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the png_combine_row function in libpng before 1.5.21 and 1.6.x before 1.6.16, when running on 64-bit systems, might allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a "very wide interlaced" PNG image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9495 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting the libpng library implementation on 64-bit systems. This flaw specifically manifests within the png_combine_row function, which processes interlaced PNG images during decompression operations. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when handling specially crafted interlaced PNG files that contain excessive width parameters, creating a condition where memory allocation calculations become corrupted and lead to unauthorized memory access patterns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of image width values during the interlacing process in libpng versions prior to 1.5.21 and 1.6.16. When processing "very wide interlaced" PNG images, the png_combine_row function fails to properly validate the width parameter against allocated buffer boundaries, particularly on 64-bit architectures where pointer sizes and memory addressing patterns differ significantly from 32-bit systems. This discrepancy creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate image metadata to cause integer overflow conditions during buffer allocation, resulting in heap memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9495 extends across numerous applications and systems that rely on libpng for image processing capabilities, including web servers, content management systems, image processing applications, and multimedia frameworks. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or denial of service conditions. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation requires specific conditions related to the target system architecture and the presence of vulnerable libpng versions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications utilize the same underlying library components.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through image processing components. The flaw specifically relates to improper input validation and memory management practices within the PNG decoding pipeline, where the library fails to properly sanitize image metadata before performing memory allocation operations. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all systems utilizing vulnerable libpng versions, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all potential attack vectors through image processing interfaces.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of patched libpng versions, implementation of input validation controls for all PNG image processing operations, and network-based intrusion detection systems configured to monitor for suspicious image file patterns. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls to restrict execution of vulnerable applications and establish robust monitoring procedures for anomalous memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing comprehensive software supply chain security measures to prevent similar issues from compromising system integrity.