CVE-2012-0278 in FlashPix PlugIn
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the FlashPix PlugIn before 4.3.4.0 for IrfanView might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .fpx file containing a crafted FlashPix image that is not properly handled during decompression.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0278 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting the FlashPix Plugin component within IrfanView software versions prior to 4.3.4.0. This issue resides within the image decompression handling mechanism for FlashPix files with the .fpx extension, creating a potential remote code execution vector that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw manifests when the plugin processes specially crafted FlashPix images that contain malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption during the decompression phase. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within image processing libraries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack scenario involves a remote attacker who can deliver a malicious .fpx file to an unsuspecting user who has IrfanView installed with the vulnerable FlashPix plugin. When the user attempts to open the crafted file, the decompression routine fails to properly validate the FlashPix image structure, causing the heap memory to be overwritten beyond its allocated boundaries. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application, potentially enabling full system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who frequently handle image files from untrusted sources or who use IrfanView as their primary image viewer in professional environments. The attack vector requires the user to actually open the malicious file, making social engineering a common accompanying threat vector. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potential privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors or malware on affected systems. The vulnerability affects a widely used image viewer application, amplifying its potential impact across various user demographics and organizational environments.
Organizations and individual users should immediately update to IrfanView version 4.3.4.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as no reliable workarounds exist for the underlying memory handling issues. Security administrators should implement network-based protections such as file type filtering and sandboxing measures to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious FlashPix files. Additionally, regular patch management processes should be reinforced to ensure timely deployment of security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in multimedia processing libraries, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of image format parsers. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted image files and monitor for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.