CVE-2016-9118 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
Heap Buffer Overflow (WRITE of size 4) in function pnmtoimage of convert.c:1719 in OpenJPEG 2.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The heap buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9118 represents a critical security flaw within the OpenJPEG 2.1.2 library that processes image format conversions. This vulnerability specifically manifests in the pnmtoimage function located within the convert.c source file at line 1719, where a write operation of size 4 bytes occurs beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking during the processing of Portable Arbitrary Map (PNM) image files, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of image data structures during the conversion process from PNM format to internal image representations. When the pnmtoimage function processes malformed or specially crafted PNM files, it fails to properly validate the dimensions and data boundaries of the input image, leading to a situation where 4 bytes of data are written to a memory location that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This heap-based buffer overflow creates memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory structures, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or more severe exploitation outcomes depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9118 extends across numerous applications and systems that rely on OpenJPEG for image processing capabilities. Given that OpenJPEG is widely integrated into various software applications including web browsers, image viewers, document processing tools, and server applications, the vulnerability presents a significant risk to system integrity and availability. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious PNM image files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the buffer overflow condition and potentially gain unauthorized control over affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to memory corruption issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected OpenJPEG installations to version 2.1.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should also implement input validation measures at the application level, ensuring that all image file processing routines include proper bounds checking and error handling mechanisms. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual memory access patterns or process behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory management practices and proper input sanitization as outlined in the software security principles of the ATT&CK framework, particularly within the context of code injection and memory corruption techniques that attackers commonly employ to compromise system security. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in environments where patching may be delayed or where legacy systems continue to operate.