CVE-2016-9583 in Outside In Technology
Summary
by MITRE
An out-of-bounds heap read vulnerability was found in the jpc_pi_nextpcrl() function of jasper before 2.0.6 when processing crafted input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2023
The CVE-2016-9583 vulnerability represents a critical heap read issue within the jasper library version 2.0.5 and earlier, specifically within the jpc_pi_nextpcrl() function. This flaw exists in the JPEG 2000 codec implementation and demonstrates a classic out-of-bounds memory access pattern that can be exploited through carefully crafted malicious input files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the processing of JPEG 2000 compressed data streams, particularly when handling progressive coding structures that utilize packet information (PI) headers. When the jpc_pi_nextpcrl() function attempts to iterate through packet data structures without proper validation of array indices or buffer boundaries, it can read memory locations beyond the allocated heap space, potentially exposing sensitive data or enabling further exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the function's handling of packet information structures within JPEG 2000 codestreams where it processes packet headers and associated data. During normal operation, the function should traverse packet data in a controlled manner, but when presented with malformed or crafted input, it fails to validate the packet count or index values against the actual allocated buffer boundaries. This condition creates a scenario where memory reads occur at addresses that may contain uninitialized data, sensitive application information, or even other heap-allocated structures. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which represents one of the most common and dangerous classes of memory safety issues in C/C++ applications. The flaw is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through image processing operations that are commonly used in web applications, document viewers, and multimedia processing systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9583 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to perform memory disclosure attacks that may reveal stack contents, heap metadata, or other sensitive application data. This vulnerability affects any software that relies on the jasper library for JPEG 2000 image processing, including web browsers, image viewers, document management systems, and multimedia applications. The exploitation potential is heightened because JPEG 2000 format is used in various critical applications such as medical imaging systems, satellite imagery processing, and digital cinema workflows. Attackers can craft malicious JPEG 2000 files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the out-of-bounds read condition and potentially extract information from adjacent memory regions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1557.001 for dynamic resolution, as it can be leveraged to gather system information and potentially escalate privileges through memory corruption exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9583 require immediate patching of the jasper library to version 2.0.6 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation in the jpc_pi_nextpcrl() function. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using vulnerable versions of the library and implement automated patch management processes. Additional defensive measures include input sanitization at application level, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-critical code paths, particularly in multimedia processing libraries that handle untrusted data from external sources. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on memory safety patterns should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other components of the software stack. Security researchers should also consider implementing fuzzing campaigns targeting the affected function to identify potential additional variants of this class of vulnerability.