CVE-2016-1619 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the (1) sycc422_to_rgb and (2) sycc444_to_rgb functions in fxcodec/codec/fx_codec_jpx_opj.cpp in PDFium, as used in Google Chrome before 48.0.2564.82, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted PDF document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-1619 represents a critical integer overflow issue within the PDFium library's color conversion functions, specifically affecting the sycc422_to_rgb and sycc444_to_rgb routines in the fxcodec/codec/fx_codec_jpx_opj.cpp module. This flaw exists in Google Chrome versions prior to 48.0.2564.82 and demonstrates a classic software security weakness that can be exploited to disrupt system operations or potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and overflow protection mechanisms within the JPEG2000 decoding pipeline that PDFium employs for processing embedded images in PDF documents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the PDFium library processes color space conversion operations for JPEG2000 encoded images within PDF files. The sycc422_to_rgb and sycc444_to_rgb functions handle the conversion from YUV color space to RGB color space, where integer overflows occur during calculations involving image dimensions and buffer allocations. When an attacker crafts a malicious PDF document containing specially constructed JPEG2000 data with manipulated dimension values, the integer overflow causes incorrect buffer sizing calculations that result in out-of-bounds memory reads. This particular flaw falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and represents a direct consequence of inadequate input sanitization and arithmetic overflow protection.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1619 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks through unspecified other impacts that could include information disclosure or code execution. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability by simply opening a crafted PDF document in a vulnerable Chrome browser, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious document distribution scenarios. The out-of-bounds read conditions can lead to memory corruption that might be exploitable for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution depending on the execution environment and memory layout. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreter usage for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 48.0.2564.82 or later, which includes proper integer overflow checks and bounds validation in the affected color conversion functions. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce exposure, while security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. The fix implemented by Google involved strengthening input validation in the JPEG2000 decoder to prevent integer overflows during buffer allocation calculations, specifically addressing the arithmetic operations that occur during color space conversions. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing strict content security policies can provide layered defense against exploitation attempts, while regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be maintained to prevent similar issues in other components of the PDF processing pipeline.