CVE-2016-3182 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
The color_esycc_to_rgb function in bin/common/color.c in OpenJPEG before 2.1.1 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted jpeg 2000 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3182 resides within the OpenJPEG library version 2.1.0 and earlier, specifically within the color_esycc_to_rgb function located in the bin/common/color.c source file. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted jpeg 2000 image files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the color conversion routine that processes ycc (luminance and chrominance) color space data. When an attacker submits a malformed jpeg 2000 file containing maliciously constructed color data, the function fails to properly handle boundary conditions and memory allocation, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in application crash or system instability. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common in image processing libraries where buffer overflows can occur during color space conversions. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process jpeg 2000 files, including medical imaging systems, digital photography applications, and document management platforms that rely on OpenJPEG for image rendering and conversion. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the memory corruption could potentially be exploited for more sophisticated attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities, making this a particularly concerning issue for enterprise environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1059.001, representing command and scripting interpreter, when considering potential exploitation vectors. Organizations utilizing OpenJPEG versions prior to 2.1.1 face substantial risk of service disruption and system instability when processing untrusted jpeg 2000 content. The vulnerability demonstrates how image processing libraries can become attack surfaces for memory corruption exploits, highlighting the importance of rigorous input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing software. The fix for this vulnerability required thorough code review and implementation of proper bounds checking within the color conversion function, ensuring that all input parameters are validated before memory operations are performed. This remediation process exemplifies the broader security principle that multimedia libraries must implement robust error handling and memory management to prevent exploitation of buffer overflow conditions. System administrators and security teams should prioritize updating their OpenJPEG installations to version 2.1.1 or later, as this vulnerability remains exploitable in older releases and continues to pose risks to legacy systems that have not received the necessary security patches. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of automated vulnerability scanning and regular security updates for multimedia processing components that handle potentially malicious file formats.