Buffer Overflow in OpenHTJ2K Image Decoder

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-51807 is a buffer overflow vulnerability found in OpenHTJ2K version 0.18.4 and earlier. This flaw occurs in the j2k_precinct_subband::parse_packet_header() function located in source/core/coding/coding_units.cpp.

A buffer overflow vulnerability allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer, which can corrupt data, crash the application, or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected program.

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Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability on your network or system involves checking for the presence of vulnerable versions of OpenHTJ2K (version 0.18.4 or earlier). Since the vulnerability is in the source code of the library, you can perform the following steps:

• Identify systems or applications using OpenHTJ2K by searching for installed versions. You can use package managers or file system searches to locate the library.
• Check the version of OpenHTJ2K installed. For example, on a Linux system, you might run: 'dpkg -l | grep openhtj2k' or 'rpm -qa | grep openhtj2k' to list installed packages.
• Inspect the source code or binaries of applications that use OpenHTJ2K to confirm if they are linked against a vulnerable version. Tools like 'ldd' (Linux) or dependency checkers can help identify linked libraries.
• Monitor network traffic for unusual activity related to JPEG 2000 file processing, as the vulnerability is triggered via crafted input to the j2k_precinct_subband::parse_packet_header() function. However, this may not directly detect the vulnerability but could indicate exploitation attempts.

There are no specific commands provided in the context to directly detect this vulnerability, as it requires manual inspection of the library version or code.

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Impact Analysis

If you are using OpenHTJ2K version 0.18.4 or earlier, this vulnerability could impact you in the following ways:

• An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on your system, potentially gaining control over the affected application or system.
• The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive.
• Sensitive data processed by the application could be accessed, modified, or stolen by an attacker.
• The attacker could escalate privileges if the application runs with elevated permissions.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could impact compliance with common standards and regulations in the following ways:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): If the vulnerable software processes personal data of EU citizens, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or disclosure of personal data, violating GDPR requirements for data protection and breach notification.
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): If the software is used in a healthcare environment to process protected health information (PHI), exploitation could result in unauthorized access to PHI, violating HIPAA's security and privacy rules.
• Other standards like ISO 27001 or NIST frameworks require organizations to maintain secure systems and protect against vulnerabilities. Failure to patch or mitigate this vulnerability could result in non-compliance with these standards.

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Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability, follow these immediate steps:

• Upgrade OpenHTJ2K to a version later than 0.18.4, if available. Since the context does not specify a patched version, check the official OpenHTJ2K repository or project page for updates.
• If an upgrade is not immediately possible, apply temporary mitigations such as:
• Restrict access to systems or applications using OpenHTJ2K to trusted users only.
• Disable or block processing of untrusted JPEG 2000 files, as the vulnerability is triggered via crafted input to the affected function.
• Monitor systems for signs of exploitation, such as unexpected crashes or unusual behavior in applications using OpenHTJ2K.
• Consider using alternative libraries or tools for JPEG 2000 processing until a patch is applied.

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