CVE-2016-10504 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the opj_mqc_byteout function in mqc.c in OpenJPEG before 2.2.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted bmp file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10504 resides within the OpenJPEG library version 2.1.2 and earlier, specifically within the opj_mqc_byteout function located in mqc.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that can be exploited by remote attackers to trigger application crashes and potentially more severe consequences through carefully crafted bmp files. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes malformed image data, particularly those with manipulated compression parameters that exceed allocated buffer boundaries during memory allocation and data handling operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the MQC (MQC stands for Modified Q-Coder) implementation, which is responsible for handling entropy coding operations in JPEG 2000 compression. The opj_mqc_byteout function fails to validate the size of data being written to heap-allocated memory regions, allowing attackers to provide input data that exceeds the pre-allocated buffer capacity. This condition creates a classic heap overflow scenario where adjacent memory locations become overwritten, leading to unpredictable application behavior and system instability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a direct violation of memory safety principles in software development practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on OpenJPEG for image processing and rendering tasks. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by preparing malicious bmp files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, will cause the target software to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple application instability, as the heap corruption can potentially lead to information disclosure or arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation conditions. Systems using OpenJPEG in web applications, image processing pipelines, or document handling services become particularly vulnerable to this attack vector, as these environments frequently process untrusted user input files.
The exploitation of CVE-2016-10504 follows patterns consistent with the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category, specifically targeting application security weaknesses through input validation failures. Organizations utilizing affected versions of OpenJPEG should prioritize immediate patching to version 2.2.0 or later, where the buffer overflow protections have been implemented. Additional mitigations include implementing strict input validation for image file processing, deploying network segmentation to limit exposure, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unusual application crash patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of third-party libraries, as this flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights can create significant security risks in widely-used software components.