CVE-2016-9114 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
There is a NULL Pointer Access in function imagetopnm of convert.c:1943(jp2) of OpenJPEG 2.1.2. image->comps[compno].data is not assigned a value after initialization(NULL). Impact is Denial of Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9114 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the OpenJPEG 2.1.2 library, specifically within the imagetopnm function located in convert.c at line 1943. This issue manifests during processing of jp2 image files and demonstrates a classic software defect pattern where memory allocation occurs without proper initialization, creating a scenario where a pointer retains a null value while subsequent code attempts to access it. The function processes image components and accesses image->comps[compno].data without ensuring that this data member has been properly assigned a valid memory reference, leading to immediate system termination when the null pointer is dereferenced.
This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-476_NULL_Pointer_Dereference, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that occurs when a program attempts to access a memory location through a pointer that has not been initialized to point to valid memory. The operational impact of this flaw is significant as it results in a denial of service condition that can be easily exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability exists in the image processing pipeline of OpenJPEG, which is a widely-used library for handling jpeg 2000 image formats, making it a potential target for attackers seeking to disrupt services that rely on this library for image processing operations. The flaw specifically affects the jp2 file format processing, where the library fails to properly initialize the data member of image components before attempting to access them, creating an exploitable condition that can cause application crashes or system instability.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal effort from an attacker as it only requires crafting a malicious jp2 file that triggers the specific code path where the uninitialized pointer is accessed. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where OpenJPEG is used to process untrusted image files, such as web applications, image processing services, or any system that accepts user-uploaded image content. The denial of service impact can be severe in mission-critical systems where continuous operation is essential, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt services through simple file uploads or image processing requests. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and represents a software integrity compromise that can be leveraged for broader attack vectors if combined with other exploitation techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory initialization in security-critical libraries. Organizations using OpenJPEG 2.1.2 should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions, implementing strict input validation, and employing sandboxing techniques to isolate image processing operations. The flaw also underscores the necessity of comprehensive code reviews and static analysis tools to identify similar null pointer dereference conditions that may exist elsewhere in the codebase, as such issues can lead to more severe security consequences beyond simple denial of service conditions.