CVE-2018-5785 in OpenJPEG
Summary
by MITRE
In OpenJPEG 2.3.0, there is an integer overflow caused by an out-of-bounds left shift in the opj_j2k_setup_encoder function (openjp2/j2k.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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5785 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the OpenJPEG 2.3.0 library, specifically within the opj_j2k_setup_encoder function located in the openjp2/j2k.c source file. This flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds left shift operation that occurs during the JPEG 2000 encoding setup process, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted input data can trigger unexpected behavior in the affected software systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through the processing of specially crafted bmp files, making it accessible to attackers without requiring local system access or elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic handling within the JPEG 2000 compression library. When the opj_j2k_setup_encoder function processes encoded data structures, it performs bitwise left shift operations on integer values that may exceed the maximum representable value for the target data type. This integer overflow condition creates a scenario where the shift operation produces unexpected results that can corrupt memory structures or cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of image metadata and compression parameters that are parsed from the input bmp file, where malicious values can cause the integer overflow during internal calculations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors depending on the execution environment. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to cause applications using OpenJPEG 2.3.0 to crash or become unresponsive when processing the crafted bmp files, effectively creating a denial of service condition that can impact legitimate users and services. The vulnerability affects any system that utilizes OpenJPEG 2.3.0 for image processing, including web applications, image servers, and document processing systems that handle bmp file uploads or conversions. This makes the attack surface particularly broad across various networked environments where image processing capabilities are exposed to untrusted input sources.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-190, which addresses integer overflow conditions, and the broader ATT&CK framework's execution and privilege escalation tactics. The vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services through malformed input, and T1499, which covers denial of service attacks targeting application availability. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to OpenJPEG versions that address this specific integer overflow condition, implementing input validation controls for image file processing, and deploying network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper integer arithmetic handling in cryptographic and multimedia libraries, emphasizing the need for comprehensive code review processes that examine bitwise operations and arithmetic overflow conditions as part of standard security practices.