CVE-2014-9830 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/sun.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a corrupted sun file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9830 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the coders/sun.c file responsible for handling SUN raster image format files. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability through the manipulation of malformed SUN raster image files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper memory handling within the image parsing routine, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited across various systems utilizing ImageMagick for image processing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of corrupted SUN raster files during the image decoding process. When ImageMagick attempts to process a malformed SUN file, the coders/sun.c component fails to properly validate the file structure and header information, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other undefined behaviors. This weakness allows attackers to craft specially designed malicious files that trigger exploitable conditions within the image processing pipeline, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the ImageMagick application.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9830 extends across multiple attack surfaces where ImageMagick is deployed, including web applications, content management systems, and file processing services. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by uploading or delivering malicious SUN raster files through various vectors such as web uploads, email attachments, or file sharing platforms. The unspecified impact mentioned in the description indicates that the vulnerability could potentially lead to complete system compromise, denial of service conditions, or information disclosure depending on the execution environment and system configuration. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web-facing applications where users can upload arbitrary files.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving execution through compromised applications and command injection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating ImageMagick to versions that address this vulnerability, implementing strict file validation and sanitization processes, and restricting file upload capabilities where possible. Additionally, network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious file uploads. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management in image processing libraries, particularly those exposed to untrusted user input in web applications and file processing services.