CVE-2018-13030 in jpeg-compressor
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in jpeg-compressor 0.1. The build_huffman function in stb_image.c allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer overflow and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13030 resides within the jpeg-compressor 0.1 library, specifically within the build_huffman function located in the stb_image.c source file. This issue represents a critical security flaw that manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow, creating significant risks for systems that utilize this library for image processing operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, potentially enabling more severe consequences depending on the execution context and system configuration.
The technical flaw occurs when the build_huffman function processes Huffman table data without adequate bounds checking or input validation. This function is responsible for constructing Huffman encoding tables used in JPEG compression and decompression operations. When malformed or specially crafted input data is processed, the function fails to properly validate the size of data structures being manipulated, leading to writes that exceed allocated stack buffer boundaries. This classic buffer overflow vulnerability allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and causing unpredictable behavior.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for applications that depend on the jpeg-compressor library for image processing tasks. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by sending maliciously formatted JPEG files or image data to systems using the vulnerable library, resulting in application crashes that constitute denial of service attacks. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that under certain conditions, attackers might be able to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, making this issue particularly dangerous in production environments where image processing is a core functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This classification indicates that the flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the software's image processing pipeline. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that JPEG files are ubiquitous in web applications, making this vulnerability exploitable across numerous platforms and systems that handle image uploads or processing.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the jpeg-compressor library, implementing input validation controls for image data processing, and deploying network segmentation to limit exposure. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of third-party libraries. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of initial access or privilege escalation tactics, particularly when targeting web applications that process user-uploaded content. The remediation approach should include comprehensive code review of similar functions, implementation of address space layout randomization, and deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts.