CVE-2014-9831 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/wpg.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a corrupted wpg file.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9831 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the coders/wpg.c file responsible for handling WPG (WordPerfect Graphics) image format decoding. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability through the deliberate manipulation of WPG image files. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to various security consequences depending on the execution environment and the attacker's capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the WPG file parser. When ImageMagick processes a malformed WPG file, the coders/wpg.c component fails to properly validate the structure and content of the file, leading to potential buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory-related vulnerabilities. This type of flaw typically occurs when the software does not adequately check file headers, data lengths, or internal structure elements before attempting to parse and process the image data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because WPG files can be embedded in various document formats or delivered through web applications, making exploitation possible through common attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9831 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential remote code execution and system compromise. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick, particularly those used in web applications, content management systems, or image processing services. The attack surface is broad as ImageMagick is widely deployed across various platforms and applications, including web servers, email systems, and document processing pipelines. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description indicates that the vulnerability could potentially lead to multiple security outcomes including privilege escalation, information disclosure, or complete system compromise depending on the target environment and attack methodology.
Organizations utilizing ImageMagick should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the software, implementing proper input validation for all image file types, and employing network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory safety practices and input validation in image processing libraries, aligning with CWE-121 which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions and CWE-125 which covers out-of-bounds read scenarios. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK tactics including execution through malicious file delivery, privilege escalation when exploiting system-level vulnerabilities, and persistence through compromised image processing services. Security teams should also consider implementing file type validation, sandboxing image processing operations, and monitoring for unusual file processing activities as part of their defense-in-depth strategy to protect against similar vulnerabilities in image processing components.