CVE-2014-9845 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The ReadDIBImage function in coders/dib.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a corrupted dib file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9845 resides within the ImageMagick image processing library, specifically in the ReadDIBImage function located in the coders/dib.c file. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing Device Independent Bitmap (DIB) image files, which are commonly used in Windows environments for storing raster graphics data. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices during the parsing of malformed DIB file structures, creating a potential attack vector for remote exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of corrupted DIB file formats where attackers can craft malicious image files that trigger memory access violations when processed by ImageMagick. When the ReadDIBImage function attempts to parse the malformed data structure, it fails to properly validate the file headers and data offsets, leading to attempts to read or write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This condition manifests as a segmentation fault or access violation that causes the application to crash, resulting in a denial of service condition that can be exploited remotely by unauthenticated attackers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize ImageMagick for image processing, particularly web applications, content management systems, and file upload services that accept image uploads from untrusted sources. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing environments. The denial of service aspect can be leveraged to disrupt legitimate service operations, potentially causing availability issues for critical applications that depend on image processing capabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions where programs access memory beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers. Additionally, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service" which involves techniques that cause systems to become unavailable through resource exhaustion or application crashes. Organizations utilizing ImageMagick in their infrastructure should consider implementing input validation controls, file type verification, and sandboxing mechanisms to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies include applying the latest security patches from ImageMagick maintainers, implementing strict file format validation before processing, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file upload activities, and utilizing application whitelisting approaches that restrict execution of vulnerable components. System administrators should also consider implementing file size limits, content type checks, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in image processing libraries, particularly those exposed to untrusted user input in web applications.