CVE-2016-9394 in Jasper
Summary
by MITRE
The jas_seq2d_create function in jas_seq.c in JasPer before 1.900.17 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9394 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the JasPer image processing library, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.900.17. This issue resides in the jas_seq2d_create function located within the jas_seq.c source file, where an assertion failure occurs when processing malformed input files. The vulnerability manifests when remote attackers submit specially crafted image files that trigger an assertion check within the library's sequence creation logic, ultimately leading to application termination and service disruption. The JasPer library serves as a comprehensive image processing toolkit that supports multiple formats including jpeg2000, making it a widely used component in various applications and systems that handle image data processing. This flaw demonstrates a classic buffer over-read or invalid memory access condition that occurs during the sequence creation phase of image file parsing, where the library fails to properly validate input parameters before proceeding with memory allocation operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious image files that contain malformed data structures which cause the jas_seq2d_create function to encounter unexpected conditions during execution. When the library attempts to create a two-dimensional sequence structure from the corrupted input data, the assertion mechanism designed to catch programming errors fails, resulting in immediate program termination. This assertion failure represents a fundamental breakdown in the library's error handling capabilities, as it should gracefully handle malformed input rather than crashing the entire application. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software quality assurance and security engineering, where proper input validation should prevent such assertion failures from occurring in production environments. This flaw can be categorized under CWE-617, which deals with reachable assertions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of array indices. The attack surface extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially impact systems that rely heavily on image processing capabilities, particularly those that process untrusted image data from external sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9394 extends significantly beyond immediate service disruption, as it affects systems that depend on JasPer for image handling operations across various platforms and applications. Any system that utilizes JasPer for processing image files, including web applications, image servers, digital asset management systems, and multimedia processing pipelines, becomes vulnerable to this attack vector. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, potentially allowing attackers to perform sustained denial of service attacks against critical image processing services. The flaw's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, as it only requires crafting specific file formats that trigger the assertion failure, making it a preferred target for automated attack tools. Organizations using affected versions of JasPer should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority concern, especially in environments where image processing services are exposed to untrusted input sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9394 primarily involve upgrading to JasPer version 1.900.17 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the assertion failure issue. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the update promptly. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing input validation measures that can detect and reject malformed image files before they reach the JasPer library processing layer. Network-level defenses such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can be configured to monitor for suspicious file upload patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling and defensive programming practices, as the assertion failure could have been prevented through better input validation and graceful degradation mechanisms. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected JasPer versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing robust security practices in software development and deployment environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1499.004 sub-technique for Network Denial of Service, as it specifically targets network-based services that process image data.