CVE-2018-20622 is a vulnerability identified in JasPer version 2.0.14, specifically within the memory allocation implementation in the file base/jas_malloc.c of the libjasper.a library. The issue manifests as a memory leak when the library is used to output images in the JP2 (JPEG 2000) format, triggered by the use of the "--output-format jp2" option. JasPer is an open-source implementation of the JPEG-2000 codec, commonly used in image processing applications and software that handle JPEG 2000 images. The memory leak (classified under CWE-772: Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime) means that allocated memory is not properly freed, leading to increased memory consumption over time during processing. Although this vulnerability does not directly impact confidentiality or integrity, it affects availability by potentially causing resource exhaustion on affected systems. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), no impact on confidentiality or integrity (C:N/I:N), and high impact on availability (A:H). Exploitation requires user interaction, such as processing a crafted JP2 image file, which could be delivered via email or web upload. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches are linked in the provided data, suggesting that remediation may require updating to a later fixed version or applying custom patches if available. Given JasPer's role in image processing pipelines, this vulnerability could be exploited to degrade service or cause denial of service conditions in applications that automatically process JP2 images.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2018-20622 lies in potential denial of service or degradation of service availability in systems that utilize JasPer 2.0.14 for JPEG 2000 image processing. This includes sectors such as media and publishing, digital archiving, geospatial imaging, and any enterprise software that handles JP2 images. Memory leaks can lead to increased memory consumption, potentially causing application crashes or system instability, which may disrupt business operations. In environments with automated image processing workflows, such as content delivery networks or digital asset management systems, this vulnerability could be triggered remotely if user interaction is involved, for example by processing user-submitted images. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, service interruptions could affect compliance with service-level agreements and operational continuity. European organizations with high reliance on image processing, especially those handling large volumes of JP2 images, should be aware of this risk. Additionally, sectors with critical infrastructure that use JasPer in imaging tools might face availability challenges if exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2018-20622, European organizations should first identify all systems and applications using JasPer 2.0.14, particularly those processing JPEG 2000 images. Since no direct patch links are provided, organizations should check for updated versions of JasPer that address this memory leak or apply vendor-provided patches if available. If updating is not immediately feasible, implement input validation and filtering to restrict or sanitize JP2 image files from untrusted sources to prevent maliciously crafted files from triggering the leak. Employ resource monitoring and limits (e.g., memory usage caps, process isolation) on image processing services to detect and contain abnormal memory consumption. Where possible, sandbox or containerize image processing components to limit the impact of resource exhaustion. Additionally, educate users and administrators about the risk of processing untrusted JP2 images and enforce strict user interaction controls to minimize exposure. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving resource exhaustion from image processing vulnerabilities.