CVE-2023-46362 in jbig2enc
Summary
by MITRE • 11/08/2023
jbig2enc v0.28 was discovered to contain a heap-use-after-free via jbig2enc_auto_threshold_using_hash in src/jbig2enc.cc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46362 resides within the jbig2enc library version 0.28, a tool designed for encoding images using the jbig2 compression format. This heap-use-after-free vulnerability specifically manifests in the jbig2enc_auto_threshold_using_hash function located in the src/jbig2enc.cc source file. The issue represents a critical memory safety flaw that can potentially be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The technical flaw stems from improper memory management within the jbig2enc_auto_threshold_using_hash function where memory allocated on the heap is accessed after it has been freed. This classic use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the program continues to reference memory locations that have already been deallocated, creating opportunities for memory corruption and potential code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it involves the automatic threshold calculation mechanism that processes image data, suggesting that any input image processed by this function could trigger the flaw.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that utilize jbig2enc for image processing tasks, particularly in environments where untrusted input is processed. Attackers could potentially craft malicious image files that, when processed by the vulnerable jbig2enc library, would trigger the use-after-free condition. This could lead to denial of service scenarios, arbitrary code execution, or information disclosure depending on how the vulnerability is exploited. The impact extends to any application or system that depends on jbig2enc for jbig2 image encoding operations, including document processing systems, image conversion tools, and scanning applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the jbig2enc library to version 0.29 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap-use-after-free vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation measures to restrict the types of image files processed by systems using jbig2enc, particularly when handling untrusted data. Additionally, deploying memory safety monitoring tools and conducting regular security assessments of image processing pipelines can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving memory corruption and privilege escalation through software exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and restricting the execution privileges of jbig2enc processes to minimize potential impact from successful exploitation attempts.