CVE-2012-3535 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in OpenJPEG 1.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted JPEG2000 file.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3535 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the OpenJPEG library version 1.5.0 and earlier implementations. This flaw resides in the JPEG2000 decoding functionality where improper input validation and memory management practices create exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers. The OpenJPEG library serves as a widely-used open-source implementation for JPEG2000 image format processing across numerous applications, operating systems, and embedded devices, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous due to its potential for widespread impact.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of JPEG2000 file structures, specifically within the handling of codestream data segments. When processing malformed or crafted JPEG2000 files, the library fails to properly validate the size parameters of various data structures, leading to memory corruption when attempting to allocate or copy data into heap-allocated buffers. This condition manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program state information, function pointers, or return addresses. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent causes of application crashes and potential code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can craft specially designed JPEG2000 files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the buffer overflow condition. This can result in application crashes, system instability, or in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects a broad spectrum of software systems that rely on OpenJPEG for image processing, including web browsers, image viewers, document processing applications, and embedded systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that JPEG2000 format is increasingly used in professional and enterprise environments where security controls may be less stringent than in traditional web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3535 require immediate patching of all affected OpenJPEG library versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary memory validation fixes. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all applications and systems utilizing vulnerable OpenJPEG versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Additionally, implementing input validation controls at multiple layers of the application stack can provide defense-in-depth measures. Network-based mitigations such as content filtering and sandboxing techniques can help reduce the risk of exploitation in environments where patching may be delayed. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution tactic, highlighting the importance of preventing untrusted file processing in user-facing applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence on related attack patterns targeting similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in multimedia processing libraries.