CVE-2016-1651 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
fxcodec/codec/fx_codec_jpx_opj.cpp in PDFium, as used in Google Chrome before 50.0.2661.75, does not properly implement the sycc420_to_rgb and sycc422_to_rgb functions, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via crafted JPEG 2000 data in a PDF document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1651 resides within the PDFium library's implementation of JPEG 2000 decoding functions, specifically in the fxcodec/codec/fx_codec_jpx_opj.cpp file. This flaw affects Google Chrome versions prior to 50.0.2661.75 and represents a critical security issue that demonstrates poor memory management practices in image processing components. The vulnerability stems from improper implementation of color space conversion functions that handle the transformation of JPEG 2000 image data from YUV color space to RGB color space, particularly when dealing with specific subsampling patterns such as 4:2:0 and 4:2:2.
The technical flaw manifests through the sycc420_to_rgb and sycc422_to_rgb functions which fail to properly validate input parameters and buffer boundaries during color space conversion operations. When processing crafted JPEG 2000 data embedded within PDF documents, these functions execute out-of-bounds memory reads that can be exploited by remote attackers to extract sensitive information from adjacent memory regions or cause arbitrary code execution through controlled memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer over-read condition that can be leveraged for information disclosure and denial of service attacks, representing a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in memory management operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious PDF documents containing specially constructed JPEG 2000 images that trigger the flawed color conversion routines when the document is opened or rendered within Google Chrome. The attack surface is significant as PDF documents are commonly used in phishing campaigns, social engineering attacks, and corporate espionage scenarios where attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data from user processes or disrupt system availability. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the specific memory layout and system configuration.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read which is categorized under the broader category of memory safety issues in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This weakness falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in software applications to execute malicious code on target systems. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can potentially chain this vulnerability with other exploits to establish persistent access. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of T1566: Phishing, as it can be effectively delivered through crafted PDF attachments in social engineering campaigns. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, network-based filtering of PDF content, and user education to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability in production environments.
This vulnerability represents a classic example of how image processing libraries can introduce security risks when proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms are not implemented. The flaw highlights the importance of rigorous code review processes for security-sensitive components and demonstrates the necessity of implementing comprehensive testing strategies including fuzzing and memory safety analysis to identify similar vulnerabilities in complex multimedia processing libraries. The remediation efforts should focus on implementing proper bounds checking, memory validation, and input sanitization within the affected color conversion functions to prevent unauthorized memory access patterns and ensure robust handling of malformed image data.