CVE-2010-1510 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in IrfanView before 4.27 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PSD image with RLE compression.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1510 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in IrfanView version 4.26 and earlier, which exposes the application to remote exploitation through specifically crafted PSD image files utilizing RLE compression. This flaw resides within the image parsing functionality of the widely used image viewer, creating a significant security risk for users who may encounter maliciously formatted image files in web environments or email attachments.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking during the decompression process of RLE (Run-Length Encoding) compressed data within PSD (Photoshop Document) image files. When IrfanView attempts to parse and render such malformed images, the application fails to validate the size of data segments before copying them into fixed-size heap buffers, leading to memory corruption that can result in either application crash or potentially arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the potential for arbitrary code execution makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted image content. Attackers could craft malicious PSD files that, when opened by an affected IrfanView version, would trigger the buffer overflow and allow remote code execution on the victim's system. This scenario particularly threatens users who frequently open image files from untrusted sources or those who use IrfanView as part of automated image processing workflows, creating attack vectors that align with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage.
The vulnerability demonstrates how image processing libraries and viewers remain prime targets for exploitation due to the complex nature of image format parsing and the variety of compression algorithms they must support. The RLE compression method used in this case adds complexity to the parsing routine, as it requires careful handling of variable-length data sequences that can easily exceed allocated buffer boundaries. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly benign file format handling can become a critical security risk when proper input validation is absent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1510 primarily focus on immediate patching of IrfanView to version 4.27 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate buffer boundaries during RLE decompression. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict file type filtering and validation policies for image files, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. Network security controls such as email filtering and web application firewalls should be configured to block or quarantine PSD files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular software updates and vulnerability assessments, as this issue was present in a widely distributed application that many users may not have updated for years, demonstrating how legacy software vulnerabilities continue to pose risks in modern computing environments.