CVE-2016-9389 in Outside In Technology
Summary
by MITRE
The jpc_irct and jpc_iict functions in jpc_mct.c in JasPer before 1.900.14 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9389 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the JasPer image processing library version 1.900.13 and earlier. This flaw exists in the jpc_irct and jpc_iict functions located within the jpc_mct.c source file, which are responsible for handling multi-component transforms in JPEG 2000 image format processing. The issue manifests when remote attackers send specially crafted malformed JPEG 2000 files to systems utilizing vulnerable JasPer implementations, triggering assertion failures that result in application crashes and complete service unavailability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the multi-component transform processing functions. When these functions encounter malformed data structures during the inverse real component transform or inverse integer component transform operations, they fail to properly handle the unexpected input conditions. This failure leads to assertion failures that terminate the application process rather than gracefully handling the error condition. The vulnerability specifically affects the JPEG 2000 codec implementation within JasPer, which is widely used in various applications including web browsers, image processing software, and server applications that handle JPEG 2000 image formats. This weakness aligns with CWE-611, which describes improper restriction of operations within a recognized security domain, and represents a classic example of insufficient error handling in cryptographic and image processing libraries.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9389 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for systems relying on JasPer for image processing. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to launch denial of service attacks against web applications, image servers, or any system that processes JPEG 2000 files through the vulnerable JasPer library. The remote nature of the attack means that systems can be compromised without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible services. This vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks. The attack surface is extensive given that JasPer is integrated into numerous open source and commercial applications, potentially allowing attackers to target multiple systems simultaneously through a single vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9389 primarily involve upgrading to JasPer version 1.900.14 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the assertion failure conditions in the affected functions. System administrators should also implement input validation measures at network boundaries, including the deployment of web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malformed JPEG 2000 files before they reach vulnerable applications. Additional protective measures include implementing application sandboxing, limiting file size constraints for image uploads, and establishing proper error handling procedures that prevent assertion failures from causing application termination. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive logging of image processing activities to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability. The fix implemented in JasPer 1.900.14 specifically addresses the missing input validation checks in the multi-component transform functions, ensuring that malformed data structures are properly handled without triggering assertion failures.