CVE-2016-2213 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The jpeg2000_decode_tile function in libavcodec/jpeg2000dec.c in FFmpeg before 2.8.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array read access) via crafted JPEG 2000 data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2213 represents a critical out-of-bounds array read access flaw within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's JPEG 2000 decoding component. This issue affects versions prior to 2.8.6 and demonstrates how multimedia processing libraries can be susceptible to denial of service attacks through carefully crafted input data. The vulnerability resides in the jpeg2000_decode_tile function located in libavcodec/jpeg2000dec.c, which processes JPEG 2000 encoded tiles during decompression operations. When maliciously formatted JPEG 2000 data is processed, the function fails to properly validate array indices before accessing memory locations, leading to unauthorized memory reads beyond allocated boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when FFmpeg attempts to decode malformed JPEG 2000 tile data, specifically during the tile decoding phase where the jpeg2000_decode_tile function handles the reconstruction of image tiles from compressed data. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within the decoding algorithm, allowing attackers to craft JPEG 2000 files that contain invalid tile coordinates or dimensions that cause the function to access memory locations outside the intended array boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient checking of the length, size, or count of a buffer, and more broadly aligns with CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory safety and multimedia processing, where the complex nature of JPEG 2000 encoding standards creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate internal data structures through carefully constructed input parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process JPEG 2000 content, particularly those handling user-uploaded media or processing third-party multimedia files. The denial of service impact means that successful exploitation can cause applications using FFmpeg to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, or media processing servers where JPEG 2000 files might be processed automatically. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it easily exploitable by malicious actors who can simply upload or provide crafted JPEG 2000 files to trigger the vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a denial of service attack (T1499) with potential for system resource exhaustion and service disruption, while also representing a code execution risk if the memory access violations lead to more severe exploitation opportunities.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2016-2213 involves immediate patching of affected FFmpeg installations to version 2.8.6 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive media processing pipelines that validate file formats and content before processing, utilizing automated scanning tools to identify potentially malicious files. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media processing tasks, limiting the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in multimedia libraries and demonstrates how complex encoding standards can introduce subtle security flaws. Security teams should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in multimedia processing components and ensure that all third-party libraries are regularly updated to address known security issues. This particular vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for memory safety in multimedia processing applications, where the combination of complex algorithms and user-provided data creates numerous potential attack surfaces that require careful validation and boundary checking mechanisms.