CVE-2018-11230 in jbig2enc
Summary
by MITRE
jbig2_add_page in jbig2enc.cc in libjbig2enc.a in jbig2enc 0.29 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11230 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the jbig2enc library component that affects the jbig2enc 0.29 software package. This issue occurs within the jbig2_add_page function located in the jbig2enc.cc source file, which is part of the libjbig2enc.a library. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to exploit a memory management error that can lead to system instability or potentially more severe consequences when processing maliciously crafted input files. The flaw specifically manifests during the handling of page data in jbig2 encoding operations, where improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access creates conditions for arbitrary code execution or system crashes. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of use-after-free conditions, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows remote exploitation without requiring local access, making it a significant threat to systems that process untrusted jbig2 encoded files. The vulnerability impacts the broader cybersecurity landscape by demonstrating how memory safety issues in widely used open source libraries can create widespread exposure across multiple applications and platforms. The technical nature of this flaw means that any application relying on jbig2enc for processing jbig2 image files becomes potentially vulnerable to remote code execution or denial of service attacks. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where file processing is automated and untrusted input is common. The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption as the use-after-free condition can be exploited to overwrite critical memory structures, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations using jbig2enc in their document processing pipelines, image conversion services, or PDF generation systems face significant risk from this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a memory corruption vulnerability that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution, with the specific technique falling under the category of code injection or system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation requires crafting a malicious jbig2 file that triggers the specific memory handling error during page addition processing, making it a targeted attack vector rather than a broad-based threat. System administrators and security professionals must understand that this vulnerability can be weaponized to cause denial of service conditions that may persist until the affected system is restarted or the vulnerable library is patched. The impact of this vulnerability extends to any software that integrates jbig2enc functionality, including document management systems, image processing applications, and PDF generation tools. The lack of proper input validation in the jbig2_add_page function creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute malicious code. This flaw demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety practices in open source software development and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party libraries. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous in cloud environments or applications that handle web-based file uploads, where attackers can simply submit a malicious file to trigger the memory corruption. The technical complexity of this vulnerability requires careful analysis of memory allocation patterns and object lifecycle management within the jbig2enc library to fully understand the exploitation conditions and develop effective mitigations. Security teams must prioritize patching this vulnerability across all systems that utilize jbig2enc functionality, as the potential for remote code execution creates a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used library means that the attack surface is extensive and affects numerous applications that depend on jbig2 encoding capabilities for document processing and image management tasks.