CVE-2021-3467 in Jasper
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2021
A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the way Jasper versions before 2.0.26 handled component references in CDEF box 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-2021-3467 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the Jasper image processing library that affects versions prior to 2026. This issue specifically manifests in the handling of component references within the CDEF box of JP2 image format decoders, exposing applications that utilize Jasper to potential denial of service attacks through crafted malicious image files. The flaw exists at the intersection of image format parsing and memory management, creating a scenario where improper input validation leads to system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the JP2 format parser component of Jasper library. When processing JP2 files containing specially crafted CDEF boxes with malformed component references, the decoder fails to properly validate pointer references before dereferencing them. This NULL pointer dereference occurs during the image decoding process when the parser attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in immediate application termination. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to applications that process JP2 image files without proper input sanitization. Systems utilizing Jasper for image processing, including web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms, become susceptible to denial of service attacks when handling maliciously crafted JP2 files. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially affect entire service availability, as attackers can exploit this flaw to repeatedly crash services or applications that process user-uploaded JP2 content. The vulnerability can be leveraged in both direct attacks against specific applications and broader service disruption campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-3467 primarily focus on immediate version updates to Jasper 2.0.26 or later, which contain the necessary patches to properly validate CDEF box component references. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures for all image file processing pipelines, including automated scanning of uploaded content for malformed JP2 structures. Network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense in depth. Security teams should also consider implementing application-level monitoring to detect unusual crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the multi-faceted attack surface this flaw presents to security operations.