CVE-2008-0493 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
fpx.dll 3.9.8.0 in the FlashPix plugin for IrfanView 4.10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted FlashPix (.FPX) file, which triggers heap corruption. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0493 represents a critical heap corruption flaw within the FlashPix plugin component of IrfanView version 4.10. This issue specifically affects the fpx.dll library version 3.9.8.0 which handles FlashPix file format processing. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and memory management within the plugin's parsing mechanism for .FPX file extensions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious FlashPix files that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, trigger memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The flaw occurs during the parsing of FlashPix file structures where the plugin fails to properly validate the size parameters and data lengths contained within the file headers. This allows an attacker to construct specially formatted .FPX files that cause the application to allocate insufficient memory for processing, leading to heap corruption when the plugin attempts to write data beyond the intended memory allocation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the IrfanView application, which typically runs with the privileges of the user who opens the file.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who might encounter malicious FlashPix files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The exploitation scenario requires that a user opens or previews the malicious .FPX file using IrfanView with the vulnerable FlashPix plugin enabled, making this a user-initiated attack vector that relies on social engineering or accidental file execution. The heap corruption can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or more critically, the ability for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised user. This vulnerability essentially provides a path for remote code execution that could lead to full system compromise depending on user privileges and system configuration.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the IrfanView application to version 4.11 or later where the FlashPix plugin has been fixed. System administrators should disable or remove the FlashPix plugin from installations where it is not essential for operations. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of IrfanView with the vulnerable plugin in enterprise environments can provide additional protection layers. Users should be educated about the risks of opening unknown file types and the importance of keeping software updated. Network-based protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can also help reduce the risk of exploitation by preventing users from accessing potentially malicious FlashPix files. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation in plugin architectures, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution through file format vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the need for regular security assessments of third-party plugins and components that extend application functionality, as these often represent attack surfaces that are not as rigorously tested as core application components.