CVE-2017-13751 in Jasper
Summary
by MITRE
There is a reachable assertion abort in the function calcstepsizes() in jpc/jpc_dec.c in JasPer 2.0.12 that will lead to a remote denial of service attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13751 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the JasPer 2.0.12 image processing library. This issue manifests in the calculation stepsizes function within the jpc_dec.c file, where a reachable assertion abort occurs during the decoding process of jpeg2000 formatted images. The flaw exists in the library's handling of malformed or specially crafted image data that triggers an assertion failure, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly. This vulnerability affects systems that utilize JasPer for image processing, particularly those handling untrusted image inputs from network sources or user uploads.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the calcstepsizes() function, which is responsible for calculating step sizes during the decoding process of jpeg2000 compressed images. When processing malformed image data, the function fails to properly handle edge cases or invalid parameter combinations, leading to an assertion failure that terminates the program execution. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-617 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses reachable assertions that can be triggered by external input. The assertion abort occurs at a point where the library expects certain conditions to be met, but receives data that violates these assumptions, resulting in program termination rather than graceful error handling.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk for remote denial of service attacks, as attackers can craft malicious jpeg2000 images designed to trigger the assertion abort when processed by vulnerable applications. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect web applications, image processing servers, and any system that relies on JasPer for handling jpeg2000 image formats. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where applications process user-uploaded images, as attackers can exploit this flaw to repeatedly crash services, potentially leading to resource exhaustion and availability degradation. This aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the service stoppage tactic, where adversaries target system availability through resource exhaustion or process termination.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to JasPer version 2.0.13 or later, where the assertion abort has been resolved through improved input validation and error handling mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all image processing workflows, particularly when handling untrusted inputs. Network-level protections such as content filtering and image validation prior to processing can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting for unexpected process terminations or assertion failures, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in the patched version addresses the core issue by ensuring that the calcstepsizes() function properly validates input parameters and gracefully handles exceptional conditions rather than triggering assertion failures that lead to program termination.