CVE-2026-51808
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2026
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in OpenHTJ2K v.0.18.4 and before allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via the openhtj2k_decoder_impl::invoke, invoke_line_based, invoke_line_based_stream, and invoke_line_based_predecoded function in source/core/interface/decoder.cpp
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
This buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the OpenHTJ2K library version 0.18.4 and earlier releases, presenting a critical security risk that could enable remote code execution through crafted input data. The flaw manifests in multiple decoder functions including openhtj2k_decoder_impl::invoke, invoke_line_based, invoke_line_based_stream, and invoke_line_based_predecoded within the source/core/interface/decoder.cpp file. These functions process incoming data streams without adequate bounds checking, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations when processing malformed input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the decoder's core functionality. When these specific functions receive data that exceeds predetermined buffer limits, the lack of boundary checks causes memory corruption that can be exploited to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory regions including return addresses and function pointers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to systems utilizing OpenHTJ2K for image decoding operations. Attackers could craft malicious HTJ2K formatted files or streams that trigger the buffer overflow during normal processing, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface expands when considering that OpenHTJ2K is commonly integrated into medical imaging systems, digital cinema applications, and other environments where high-quality image compression is essential. The exploitation technique aligns with ATT&CK tactic T1059 by enabling command execution through code injection methods that leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The impact of successful exploitation extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions, data exfiltration, and system persistence mechanisms. Given that the vulnerability affects multiple decoder functions, attackers have several potential entry points for exploitation attempts. The memory layout corruption can result in unpredictable behavior that may manifest as application crashes, unexpected reboots, or more sophisticated attack vectors involving return-oriented programming techniques. Organizations using affected versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation controls, address space layout randomization, and stack canaries to reduce the exploitability of this vulnerability.
Security practitioners should prioritize patching affected systems as the primary remediation strategy, given that no effective workarounds exist for this class of buffer overflow vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of rigorous input validation in multimedia processing libraries where complex data formats are parsed and interpreted. This flaw highlights how seemingly minor implementation oversights in core library functions can create significant security risks across multiple application domains. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and file access controls to limit potential attack vectors while awaiting complete patch deployment.
The vulnerability landscape for this issue shows similar patterns in other image processing libraries where buffer overflows have been discovered in similar decoding contexts. The presence of this flaw in a widely used compression library indicates that security considerations must be integrated early in the development lifecycle, particularly for components handling untrusted input data. This case study reinforces industry best practices around defensive programming including bounds checking, memory safety mechanisms, and regular security assessments to identify and remediate such critical vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.