CVE-2017-13745 in Outside In Technology
Summary
by MITRE
There is a reachable assertion abort in the function jpc_dec_process_sot() in jpc/jpc_dec.c in JasPer 2.0.12 that will lead to a remote denial of service attack by triggering an unexpected jpc_ppmstabtostreams return value, a different vulnerability than CVE-2018-9154.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13745 represents a critical remote denial of service flaw within the JasPer image processing library version 2.0.12. This issue manifests in the jpeg2000 decoder component where the function jpc_dec_process_sot() contains a reachable assertion abort condition that can be triggered remotely. The flaw occurs during the processing of jpeg2000 stream data when the jpc_ppmstabtostreams function returns an unexpected value, causing the application to terminate abruptly. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or special privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the jpeg2000 decoding pipeline. When the jpc_dec_process_sot() function processes a start of tile (SOT) marker within the jpeg2000 stream, it relies on the jpc_ppmstabtostreams function to properly manage the stream data. However, when this supporting function returns an unexpected value that does not match the expected error codes, the assertion mechanism within jpc_dec_process_sot() triggers an abort condition. This assertion failure results in immediate program termination and prevents further processing of valid jpeg2000 data streams. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through malformed jpeg2000 files or streams that are processed by applications utilizing the JasPer library.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process jpeg2000 image data from untrusted sources. Applications such as web servers, image processing services, and document management systems that utilize JasPer for jpeg2000 decoding are vulnerable to remote denial of service attacks. Attackers can craft malicious jpeg2000 files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, will cause the target system to crash or become unresponsive. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to resource exhaustion if attackers repeatedly trigger the vulnerability, potentially causing cascading failures in dependent systems. The remote nature of this attack means that systems can be compromised from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or user interaction.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a manifestation of CWE-617, reachable assertion, which is classified under the weakness category of assertion failure conditions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, and represents a specific implementation flaw in the jpeg2000 decoding process. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of the JasPer library to version 2.0.13 or later where the assertion failure has been corrected. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures for jpeg2000 streams can provide defense in depth. Organizations should also consider deploying network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling in cryptographic and image processing libraries, as improper handling of edge cases can lead to complete system compromise through denial of service attacks.