CVE-2012-1499 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
The JPEG 2000 codec (jp2.c) in OpenJPEG before 1.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted palette index in a CMAP record of a JPEG image, which triggers memory corruption, aka "out-of heap-based buffer write."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1499 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the JPEG 2000 codec implementation within OpenJPEG versions prior to 1.5. This flaw exists within the jp2.c file and specifically targets the handling of palette indices within CMAP records of JPEG images. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and boundary checking when processing malformed JPEG 2000 image files containing crafted palette index values. The flaw falls under CWE-122, which classifies heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to arbitrary code execution. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially malformed JPEG 2000 images that contain malicious palette index values in CMAP records, triggering memory corruption that can be leveraged for remote code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the OpenJPEG library processes a JPEG 2000 image file containing a malformed CMAP record with an oversized or improperly constrained palette index. During the decoding process, the codec fails to properly validate the size of the palette data against allocated memory boundaries, resulting in a buffer overflow condition. This memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data, potentially enabling them to control program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through standard image processing operations, making it exploitable in various contexts including web browsers, image viewers, and document processing applications that utilize OpenJPEG for JPEG 2000 format support.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1499 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass significant security risks in environments where JPEG 2000 image processing is utilized. Systems that automatically process or display JPEG 2000 images, such as web applications, digital asset management systems, and multimedia processing platforms, become vulnerable to remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain code execution, and can be particularly dangerous in server environments where image processing occurs without proper user input sanitization. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including content management systems, email clients, and multimedia frameworks that rely on OpenJPEG for image format support, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire systems through image-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1499 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected OpenJPEG installations to version 1.5 or later, which contains the necessary memory boundary checks and input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement defensive measures such as image file validation, sandboxing of image processing operations, and input sanitization of JPEG 2000 files before processing. Network-based mitigations include implementing content filtering rules that block JPEG 2000 files or restricting access to image processing functionalities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual image processing activities and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in multimedia libraries and the need for comprehensive input validation in image format decoders. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other image processing libraries and multimedia frameworks that may be susceptible to similar heap-based buffer overflow conditions.