CVE-2014-9664 in FreeType
Summary
by MITRE
FreeType before 2.5.4 does not check for the end of the data during certain parsing actions, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted Type42 font, related to type42/t42parse.c and type1/t1load.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9664 represents a critical buffer over-read issue within the FreeType font rendering library, affecting versions prior to 2.5.4. This flaw exists in the parsing mechanisms responsible for processing Type42 fonts, which are a variant of PostScript font format used primarily in font systems and applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the type42/t42parse.c and type1/t1load.c source files, where insufficient bounds checking allows maliciously crafted font files to trigger unexpected behavior during font loading operations. The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of buffer limits, and more specifically with CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations that can occur when input data exceeds expected boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious Type42 font file contains malformed data structures that cause the FreeType parser to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. During the parsing process, the library fails to validate that data pointers remain within the confines of the actual font data, allowing attackers to craft font files that contain crafted offsets or lengths that exceed the legitimate data boundaries. This improper validation creates an out-of-bounds read condition that can result in system instability, application crashes, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution environment and memory layout. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security and font processing, where the parsing of untrusted font data becomes a potential attack surface for denial of service attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process untrusted font files, particularly in environments where applications rely on FreeType for font rendering. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks, as the out-of-bounds read conditions may reveal memory contents or enable information disclosure. Systems that process email attachments, web content, or user-generated font files become particularly vulnerable, as attackers can exploit this weakness to disrupt services or potentially gain insights into system memory structures. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including web browsers, desktop applications, and server-side systems that render fonts, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining robust security postures. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be executed through standard font processing mechanisms without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9664 primarily focus on upgrading to FreeType version 2.5.4 or later, where the parsing routines have been corrected to include proper bounds checking. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all systems using FreeType are updated promptly, particularly those handling untrusted font data. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict font validation procedures, sandboxing font processing operations, and monitoring for unusual font processing behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application-level restrictions on font file types that can be processed and regularly audit font handling code for similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The remediation process should align with standard security practices outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on the defense against privilege escalation and denial of service attacks that leverage software vulnerabilities in rendering libraries.