CVE-2022-1122 in AutoVue
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2022
A flaw was found in the opj2_decompress program in openjpeg2 2.4.0 in the way it handles an input directory with a large number of files. When it fails to allocate a buffer to store the filenames of the input directory, it calls free() on an uninitialized pointer, leading to a segmentation fault and a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1122 represents a critical memory management flaw within the opj2_decompress utility of the openjpeg2 library version 2.4.0. This issue manifests when the decompression program encounters an input directory containing an excessive number of files that exceeds the system's available memory capacity. The flaw specifically resides in the program's handling of directory traversal operations where it attempts to allocate memory buffers to store file names from the input directory. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-457 as "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and demonstrates poor error handling practices in resource allocation scenarios. The affected component operates as part of the OpenJPEG 2.0 library ecosystem which is widely used for JPEG 2000 image format processing across various applications and systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the directory processing phase of the decompression workflow where the program attempts to enumerate files within a specified input directory. When the system cannot allocate sufficient memory to store all file names due to the directory size exceeding available resources, the program fails to properly initialize a pointer variable before invoking the free() function. This uninitialized pointer dereference results in a segmentation fault that terminates the program execution abruptly. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through controlled input manipulation where an attacker supplies a directory containing a large number of files, effectively creating a denial of service condition. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Utilities: File and Directory Permissions Modification" and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where improper memory management leads to system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1122 extends beyond simple program termination as it creates a reliable denial of service condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt legitimate system operations. Systems relying on openjpeg2 for image processing, particularly those handling user-provided content or batch processing workloads, become vulnerable to this attack vector. The vulnerability affects any environment where the opj2_decompress utility is invoked with directory inputs, including web applications, batch processing systems, and automated image conversion services. The exploitability is high due to the predictable nature of the trigger and the minimal complexity required to construct a malicious input directory. Organizations using openjpeg2 in production environments face potential service interruption risks, particularly in scenarios involving large-scale image processing or automated workflows where directory inputs are common.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1122 should focus on immediate software updates and implementation of input validation controls. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of openjpeg2 that properly handles memory allocation failures and initializes all pointers before use. System administrators should implement input size limits and directory traversal restrictions to prevent exploitation through large directory inputs. The implementation of proper error handling and memory management practices including bounds checking and resource cleanup procedures can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other applications. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal directory processing patterns and memory allocation failures that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing or containerization techniques to isolate the decompression utility from critical system resources, thereby limiting the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments of image processing pipelines and input validation mechanisms can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in production environments.