CVE-2024-28576 in FreeImage
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2024
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in open source FreeImage v.3.19.0 [r1909] allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) via the opj_j2k_tcp_destroy() function when reading images in J2K format.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28576 resides within the FreeImage open source library version 3.19.0 release 1909 and specifically affects the opj_j2k_tcp_destroy() function during processing of J2K format images. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to execute denial of service attacks against systems utilizing the affected library. The issue stems from improper memory management within the JPEG 2000 image processing component where insufficient bounds checking occurs during the destruction phase of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) structures used in the compression format. The vulnerability manifests when the library attempts to clean up memory allocated for JPEG 2000 image data structures, particularly in scenarios involving malformed or specially crafted J2K files that trigger unexpected behavior in the memory deallocation routine. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The operational impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability can be exploited to crash applications that depend on FreeImage for image processing, potentially leading to complete application termination or system instability. Attackers can leverage this weakness by providing maliciously constructed J2K image files that cause the opj_j2k_tcp_destroy() function to access memory beyond allocated buffers, resulting in segmentation faults or other memory corruption errors that terminate the target process.
The exploitability of CVE-2024-28576 follows ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects systems where FreeImage is integrated into applications such as image viewers, web servers processing image uploads, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause cascading failures in applications that rely on FreeImage for image handling, potentially affecting multiple concurrent users or processes. The attack surface includes any application that accepts J2K image files from untrusted sources, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in web environments where users can upload arbitrary image files. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread adoption of FreeImage across various software platforms and operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS distributions. Organizations using affected applications may experience service interruptions, application crashes, and potential data loss if the vulnerability is not addressed promptly. The root cause of this issue demonstrates poor memory management practices within the JPEG 2000 decoding library implementation, where the destroy function fails to properly validate the size of memory structures before attempting deallocation operations. This flaw represents a classic example of insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking that can be exploited to cause system instability and denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-28576 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FreeImage versions to the latest available release that contains the fix for the buffer overflow vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular updates of all third-party libraries and dependencies, particularly those handling image processing and file format parsing. Organizations should consider implementing input validation controls that filter or reject potentially malicious J2K image files before they reach the FreeImage processing layer, using techniques such as file type verification and content scanning. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the potential attack surface, particularly in environments where untrusted users can upload files. Monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior or repeated attempts to access the vulnerable function, which could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, application developers should consider implementing defensive programming practices such as bounds checking, memory sanitization, and proper error handling within their own code when integrating FreeImage libraries. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST guidelines for memory safety in software development. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their software dependencies to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The fix for this vulnerability typically involves proper bounds checking and memory management within the opj_j2k_tcp_destroy() function to prevent access beyond allocated memory buffers, ensuring that all memory deallocation operations are performed safely and securely.