CVE-2016-5159 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in OpenJPEG, as used in PDFium in Google Chrome before 53.0.2785.89 on Windows and OS X and before 53.0.2785.92 on Linux, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JPEG 2000 data that is mishandled during opj_aligned_malloc calls in dwt.c and t1.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-5159 represents a critical integer overflow issue within the OpenJPEG library implementation that affects Google Chrome's PDFium component. This flaw manifests in multiple locations within the codebase, specifically in the dwt.c and t1.c files where opj_aligned_malloc calls are processed. The vulnerability occurs when handling crafted JPEG 2000 data, which triggers improper integer arithmetic that results in heap-based buffer overflows. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through maliciously crafted PDF files that contain embedded JPEG 2000 images, making it a significant threat vector for web-based attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and integer overflow handling within the JPEG 2000 decoding process. When the PDFium component processes JPEG 2000 data, the integer overflow occurs during memory allocation calculations, specifically when determining buffer sizes for aligned memory allocation operations. The flaw is categorized as CWE-190, which represents integer overflow or wraparound, and this specific manifestation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The improper handling of integer values during memory allocation leads to insufficient buffer sizing, creating conditions where heap memory can be overwritten or corrupted during subsequent operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can craft specially designed JPEG 2000 image data that, when processed by Chrome's PDFium component, causes the application to allocate insufficient memory buffers. This results in heap corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code or cause application crashes. The vulnerability affects multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, though different versions of Chrome require specific patching to address the issue. The remote exploitation capability means that users can be compromised simply by viewing a malicious PDF document, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for enterprise environments and individual users alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5159 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Google to address the underlying integer overflow conditions. Organizations should prioritize updating Chrome to versions 53.0.2785.89 or later on Windows and OS X, and 53.0.2785.92 or later on Linux. Beyond immediate patching, network administrators should implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious PDF content, along with sandboxing mechanisms that limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory allocation patterns and heap corruption indicators. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in third-party libraries, emphasizing the need for regular security audits of dependencies. Organizations should also consider implementing content filtering solutions that can identify and block PDF files containing embedded JPEG 2000 images until proper patches are deployed across all systems.