CVE-2021-3443 in Jasper
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2021
A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the way Jasper versions before 2.0.27 handled component references in the JP2 image format decoder. A specially crafted JP2 image file could cause an application using the Jasper library to crash when opened.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-3443 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the Jasper image processing library that affects versions prior to 2021-03-15. This issue specifically manifests in the JP2 image format decoder component where the library fails to properly validate component references during image parsing operations. The flaw exists in the way the software handles malformed or maliciously crafted JP2 files that contain unexpected or malformed component reference structures. When an application utilizing the affected Jasper library attempts to process such a file, the decoder encounters a NULL pointer reference that leads to an immediate crash of the target application. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and is classified as CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions that can lead to application instability and potential denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic failure in input validation and error handling mechanisms within the image processing pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially designed JP2 image file that contains malformed component references which, when processed by an application using the vulnerable Jasper library, triggers the NULL pointer dereference condition. The flaw occurs during the decoding phase when the library attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated. This type of memory access violation results in an immediate application crash without any opportunity for graceful error handling or recovery. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal file opening operations, meaning that any application that relies on Jasper for JP2 image processing could be affected simply by opening a malicious file. This makes the vulnerability suitable for both accidental and intentional exploitation scenarios, with the potential for denial of service attacks against applications that handle user-provided image files.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-3443 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass broader system availability and reliability concerns. Applications that depend on Jasper for image processing functionality become vulnerable to denial of service attacks where malicious users can cause legitimate applications to crash repeatedly by providing specially crafted JP2 files. This vulnerability affects a wide range of software systems including image viewers, document processing applications, and content management systems that handle JP2 formatted images. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a significant risk to system availability. The vulnerability can be exploited in automated attack scenarios where multiple applications are targeted simultaneously, potentially causing cascading failures across interconnected systems that rely on image processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-3443 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of the Jasper library where version 2.0.27 or later contains the necessary fixes to properly validate component references in JP2 files. Organizations should prioritize patching affected applications that utilize the Jasper library, particularly those handling user-provided image content. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input validation and sanitization for image files, deploying sandboxing techniques for image processing operations, and establishing monitoring systems to detect unusual application crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious JP2 file transfers. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling and memory management in image processing libraries, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and vulnerability management processes. Organizations using Jasper or similar image processing libraries should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications that might be exposed to this type of memory safety issue.