CVE-2017-14041 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
A stack-based buffer overflow was discovered in the pgxtoimage function in bin/jp2/convert.c in OpenJPEG 2.2.0. The vulnerability causes an out-of-bounds write, which may lead to remote denial of service or possibly remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14041 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the OpenJPEG 2.2.0 library, specifically within the pgxtoimage function located in bin/jp2/convert.c. This flaw exists in the handling of JP2 image format conversions and demonstrates a classic software security weakness that can be exploited to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking during the processing of image data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted input files.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length stack buffer. In this case, the pgxtoimage function fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into a stack-allocated buffer, resulting in an out-of-bounds write condition. This condition can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, and other critical program state information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through the processing of malformed JP2 image files, making it exploitable in scenarios where users or applications process untrusted image content from external sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14041 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, depending on the specific system environment and memory layout. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate program execution flow through stack corruption, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can deliver malicious JP2 files through web applications, email attachments, or file sharing systems without requiring local access to the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise systems through automated attacks or social engineering campaigns.
Systems utilizing OpenJPEG 2.2.0 for image processing, including web applications, content management systems, digital asset management platforms, and image processing libraries, are at risk of exploitation. The vulnerability affects any application that processes JP2 image files without proper input validation, creating widespread exposure across various industries including healthcare, finance, government, and entertainment sectors where digital image processing is prevalent. Organizations using vulnerable versions of OpenJPEG should consider the potential for privilege escalation attacks, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious code with elevated privileges if the affected applications run with elevated permissions. The attack surface is particularly broad given that OpenJPEG is used as a dependency in numerous software packages and frameworks across different operating systems and platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14041 should prioritize immediate patching of affected OpenJPEG installations to version 2.3.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement input validation measures including file format checking, size limitation enforcement, and sandboxing of image processing operations to prevent exploitation even if patches are not immediately available. Network-based defenses should include content filtering systems that can detect and block suspicious JP2 files, while application-level defenses should enforce strict input validation and implement proper error handling to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and dependency management to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited in the wild. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement threat hunting activities to detect potential exploitation attempts in their environments, as the ATT&CK framework suggests that such buffer overflow vulnerabilities are commonly used in initial access and privilege escalation phases of cyber attacks.