CVE-2013-6887 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
OpenJPEG 1.5.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors that trigger NULL pointer dereferences, division-by-zero, and other errors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6887 affects OpenJPEG version 1.5.1, a widely used library for handling jpeg 2000 image format processing. This issue represents a significant security concern as it allows remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against systems that utilize this library. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors that lead to critical runtime errors including NULL pointer dereferences and division-by-zero conditions, which are classic indicators of memory corruption flaws in software applications. These types of errors typically occur when programs attempt to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or when mathematical operations involve invalid operands, creating opportunities for attackers to disrupt normal system operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-476, which addresses NULL pointer dereferences, and CWE-369, which covers division by zero errors. These flaws represent fundamental programming errors that can be exploited to crash applications or systems without requiring authentication or special privileges. When OpenJPEG encounters malformed or maliciously crafted jpeg 2000 files, the library's processing routines fail to properly validate input data, leading to these critical errors that ultimately result in system crashes or unresponsive applications. The remote exploitation aspect means that attackers can trigger these conditions from outside the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications or services that process user-uploaded content.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6887 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect a wide range of applications that depend on OpenJPEG for image processing functionality. Systems utilizing this library for image handling, web services, mobile applications, or document management platforms become vulnerable to denial of service attacks that can render them temporarily or permanently unavailable. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where automated processing of user-generated content occurs, as attackers can craft malicious files that will cause systems to crash when processing these images. The lack of input validation in the library's processing pipeline creates a vector for attackers to systematically target services that handle jpeg 2000 format files, potentially leading to cascading failures in larger networked systems that depend on these components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as the most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of OpenJPEG that addresses these memory corruption issues. Organizations should prioritize updating their OpenJPEG installations to versions that have been verified to resolve these NULL pointer dereference and division-by-zero conditions. Additionally, implementing input validation measures at application layers can provide defense-in-depth protection, ensuring that even if malicious files reach the OpenJPEG processing pipeline, they are properly sanitized before being passed to the vulnerable library. Network segmentation and access controls can also limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures that include fuzzing and input validation checks to prevent similar issues from affecting deployed systems.