CVE-2018-5727 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
In OpenJPEG 2.3.0, there is an integer overflow vulnerability in the opj_t1_encode_cblks function (openjp2/t1.c). Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial of service via a crafted bmp file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2023
The integer overflow vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-5727 affects OpenJPEG version 2.3.0 and resides within the opj_t1_encode_cblks function located in the openjp2/t1.c source file. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers through the careful crafting of malicious bmp files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling during the processing of image data structures, specifically when dealing with compressed data blocks within the JPEG 2000 encoding framework. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to calculate memory allocation sizes or buffer dimensions based on user-supplied parameters that can be manipulated to exceed the maximum representable integer values.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of integer variables that control memory allocation and data processing boundaries within the JPEG 2000 compression pipeline. When a malicious bmp file is processed, the opj_t1_encode_cblks function performs calculations that can result in integer overflow conditions, causing the system to allocate insufficient memory or attempt operations on invalid memory regions. This overflow condition typically occurs when the product of two integer values exceeds the maximum value that can be represented within the target integer data type, leading to unexpected behavior and potential system instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow error, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where arithmetic operations produce values that exceed the capacity of the data type used to store them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors within the broader threat landscape. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to cause applications using OpenJPEG to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability affects systems that process bmp files through OpenJPEG libraries, making it particularly concerning for web applications, image processing services, and any software that accepts user-uploaded image files without proper sanitization. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling process injection and system resource exhaustion, while also potentially supporting lateral movement through service disruption. The impact is particularly severe in environments where OpenJPEG is used as a backend component for image processing, as it can lead to cascading failures across multiple dependent services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5727 should prioritize immediate patching of affected OpenJPEG installations to version 2.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the integer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all image file parameters before processing, particularly focusing on boundary checks and integer range validation. Additionally, deployment of network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability through malformed image file submissions. The implementation of memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. System administrators should also establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues in other components of the software stack.