CVE-2018-20846 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

OpenJPEG through version 2.3.0 is vulnerable to out-of-bounds accesses in specific functions, allowing remote attackers to trigger a denial of service (application crash).

Understanding CVE-2018-20846

This CVE involves a vulnerability in OpenJPEG that can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service.

What is CVE-2018-20846?

The vulnerability in OpenJPEG versions up to and including 2.3.0 enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack by exploiting out-of-bounds accesses in certain functions.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20846

The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a complete application crash, resulting in a denial of service condition for users or systems utilizing the affected OpenJPEG versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20846

OpenJPEG through version 2.3.0 is susceptible to a specific vulnerability that can be further understood through the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The issue resides in the functions pi_next_lrcp, pi_next_rlcp, pi_next_rpcl, pi_next_pcrl, pi_next_rpcl, and pi_next_cprl in the openmj2/pi.c file, allowing for out-of-bounds accesses.

Affected Systems and Versions

OpenJPEG versions up to and including 2.3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit the out-of-bounds accesses in the mentioned functions to trigger a denial of service attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-20846 and enhance security measures, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenJPEG to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access to vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by OpenJPEG to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.