CVE-2025-54874 in openjpeg
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2025
OpenJPEG is an open-source JPEG 2000 codec. In OpenJPEG 2.5.3 and earlier, a call to opj_jp2_read_header may lead to OOB heap memory write when the data stream p_stream is too short and p_image is not initialized.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-54874 affects OpenJPEG version 2.5.3 and earlier, representing a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition that can be exploited through improper handling of JPEG 2000 image header parsing. This issue manifests when the opj_jp2_read_header function processes a malformed data stream where the p_stream parameter contains insufficient data while the p_image parameter remains uninitialized. The flaw occurs within the library's JPEG 2000 codec implementation, specifically during the header reading phase of image processing operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation and memory management within the OpenJPEG library's parsing routines. When the function encounters a truncated data stream that does not contain sufficient bytes to properly initialize the image structure, the code proceeds with memory operations that write beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries. This improper memory access pattern creates an exploitable condition where attackers can manipulate the data stream to trigger a heap overflow, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-122, which specifically addresses insufficient checking of heap buffer bounds during memory operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous applications that rely on OpenJPEG for image processing, including web browsers, image viewers, document management systems, and multimedia applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious JPEG 2000 files that trigger the vulnerable code path when processed by affected software. The memory corruption can result in application crashes, denial of service conditions, or in more sophisticated attack scenarios, potential remote code execution. This vulnerability is particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of OpenJPEG in both commercial and open-source software ecosystems, making it a prime target for exploitation in supply chain attacks or targeted campaigns against vulnerable applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-54874 should prioritize immediate software updates to OpenJPEG version 2.5.4 or later, which contain patches addressing the heap overflow condition through proper input validation and memory boundary checking. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly in environments where the library is used for processing untrusted image data. Additional defensive measures include deploying input validation filters that reject malformed JPEG 2000 streams, implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations, and monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security professionals should consider leveraging the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for process injection and T1059 command and scripting interpreter categories when developing detection rules for potential exploitation of this vulnerability in network monitoring systems.