CVE-2024-31744 in jasper
Summary
by MITRE • 04/19/2024
In Jasper 4.2.2, the jpc_streamlist_remove function in src/libjasper/jpc/jpc_dec.c:2407 has an assertion failure vulnerability, allowing attackers to cause a denial of service attack through a specific image file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-31744 represents a critical assertion failure within the Jasper image processing library version 4.2.2. This flaw exists in the jpc_streamlist_remove function located in the src/libjasper/jpc/jpc_dec.c file at line 2407, where the software fails to properly validate input parameters during the decoding process of jpc image streams. The issue stems from insufficient boundary checking and validation mechanisms that allow maliciously crafted image files to trigger an assertion failure, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly and resulting in a denial of service condition. This vulnerability specifically affects systems that utilize the Jasper library for image processing, particularly those handling jpc format files which are commonly used in medical imaging and other applications requiring lossless compression.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially formatted jpc image file that, when processed by the vulnerable Jasper library, will cause the assertion check to fail. This failure occurs during the stream list removal operation where the function attempts to manipulate memory structures containing image data streams. The assertion failure essentially acts as an unhandled exception that terminates the application process without proper error recovery mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-611: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, as the function fails to properly validate memory access operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal file processing operations, requiring no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques beyond creating a malformed image file.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems that rely on Jasper for image processing workflows, particularly in medical imaging environments where jpc files are commonly used for storing high-fidelity medical scans. The denial of service aspect means that legitimate users could be denied access to image processing services when malicious files are encountered, potentially disrupting critical healthcare operations or other time-sensitive applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Network Denial of Service, as it enables an attacker to disrupt service availability through crafted input files. Organizations using Jasper 4.2.2 in production environments face potential downtime and service disruption risks, especially in automated processing pipelines where the library might be invoked without proper input sanitization or error handling.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-31744 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that have addressed this assertion failure vulnerability. System administrators should implement input validation measures that sanitize image files before processing them through the Jasper library, including implementing file format checks and size limitations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing or containerization techniques to isolate image processing operations and prevent the denial of service from affecting the broader system. The implementation of proper error handling and recovery mechanisms within applications that utilize Jasper can help prevent the assertion failure from causing complete application termination. Regular security assessments of image processing pipelines and monitoring for unusual processing patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also maintain updated threat intelligence on similar vulnerabilities within the Jasper library ecosystem and ensure that their patch management processes include timely updates to address this and related memory safety issues.