CVE-2016-10250 in Jasper
Summary
by MITRE
The jp2_colr_destroy function in jp2_cod.c in JasPer before 1.900.13 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) by leveraging incorrect cleanup of JP2 box data on error. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-8887.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10250 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the JasPer library version 1.900.12 and earlier, specifically affecting the jp2_colr_destroy function in the jp2_cod.c file. This issue stems from inadequate error handling during the cleanup process of JP2 box data structures, creating a scenario where a remote attacker can trigger a NULL pointer dereference condition that ultimately leads to application crash and service unavailability. The flaw is particularly concerning as it emerges from an incomplete remediation effort for a previously identified vulnerability CVE-2016-8887, indicating a pattern of flawed security fixes that leave residual attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the jp2_colr_destroy function attempts to clean up JP2 box data structures without proper validation of pointer states during error conditions. When malformed or maliciously crafted JP2 files are processed, the function fails to properly handle cases where certain data pointers remain uninitialized or set to NULL, resulting in a direct dereference of null pointers during the cleanup phase. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-476, which categorizes NULL pointer dereference as a fundamental programming error that can lead to application crashes and system instability. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition because the application terminates abruptly when encountering the NULL pointer dereference, preventing legitimate users from accessing the service or processing valid JP2 files.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems that process JP2 image files, particularly those in web applications, image processing servers, or document management systems that utilize the JasPer library for image format handling. Attackers can exploit this weakness by uploading or transmitting specially crafted JP2 files that trigger the specific error path within the jp2_colr_destroy function. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged in broader attack scenarios including resource exhaustion attacks where multiple malicious files are processed to maintain system instability. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload content or where services process external image files.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2016-10250 requires immediate deployment of JasPer version 1.900.13 or later, which contains the complete fix for this issue. Organizations should also implement input validation measures that filter or reject malformed JP2 files before they reach the vulnerable code path, though this represents a defensive measure rather than a complete solution. Security teams should consider implementing monitoring for unusual application crash patterns or resource consumption spikes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of thorough regression testing when implementing security patches, as the incomplete fix for CVE-2016-8887 created this secondary vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, highlighting the strategic importance of addressing such flaws in image processing libraries that are commonly used across enterprise environments. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify other instances where similar incomplete fixes might exist in their software dependencies.