CVE-2016-8885 in Jasper
Summary
by MITRE
The bmp_getdata function in libjasper/bmp/bmp_dec.c in JasPer before 1.900.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) by calling the imginfo command with a crafted BMP image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8885 resides within the JasPer library, specifically in the bmp_getdata function located in libjasper/bmp/bmp_dec.c. This issue affects versions of JasPer prior to 1.900.9 and represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. The flaw manifests when the imginfo command is invoked with a specially crafted BMP image file, leading to a NULL pointer dereference condition that crashes the application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of BMP image data structures during the decoding process. When the bmp_getdata function processes malformed input, it fails to properly validate the image headers and data segments, resulting in a situation where a null pointer is dereferenced during the image information extraction phase. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices within the image parsing logic, where the code assumes certain data structures will contain valid pointers without proper verification.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize JasPer for image processing, particularly those handling untrusted image data from external sources. Applications using the affected library could experience complete service disruption when processing maliciously crafted BMP files, making this a prime target for denial of service attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications, content management systems, and image processing services that accept user-uploaded images without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this flaw to repeatedly crash services, potentially leading to availability issues that impact legitimate users and business operations.
The exploitation of CVE-2016-8885 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which focuses on network denial of service attacks. This vulnerability can be classified as a remote code execution vector that, while not directly enabling arbitrary code execution, creates a reliable means of service disruption that can be used as part of broader attack campaigns. The attack surface extends to any system that processes BMP images through the JasPer library, including but not limited to web servers, image conversion utilities, and multimedia applications. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling exercises and implement appropriate network segmentation to limit exposure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to JasPer version 1.900.9 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the NULL pointer dereference issue. Additionally, implementing input validation measures such as image format verification, size limits, and proper error handling can provide defense in depth. System administrators should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious image processing activities and implementing proper access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious image files. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough input validation and proper error handling in multimedia processing libraries, as these components often become attack vectors when insufficiently protected against malformed data inputs.