CVE-2017-10752 in XnView Classic
Summary
by MITRE
XnView Classic for Windows Version 2.40 might allow attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .rle file, related to "Data from Faulting Address controls Branch Selection starting at ntdll_77df0000!RtlpLowFragHeapFree+0x000000000000001f."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-10752 affects XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 and represents a critical denial of service condition that could potentially lead to more severe consequences. This issue stems from improper handling of maliciously crafted .rle files within the image processing library, specifically within the ntdll component of the Windows operating system. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to process a specially constructed run-length encoded file that triggers abnormal behavior in the memory management subsystem.
The technical flaw occurs at the ntdll_77df0000!RtlpLowFragHeapFree function where data from a faulting address controls branch selection, creating a condition where arbitrary code execution or system instability can occur. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows and memory corruption issues that are commonly classified as CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, or CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, depending on the specific memory access patterns. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where the heap management functions are executed, making it difficult to contain and predict.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as attackers could potentially leverage this condition to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. When a user opens a malicious .rle file, the application's image processing routine triggers the vulnerable code path in ntdll, causing the system to jump to an unpredictable memory location based on corrupted data from the faulting address. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to execute malicious code through the compromised application. The exploitability is enhanced by the fact that the vulnerability occurs during routine file opening operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted image files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application updates from the vendor to patch the memory handling routines in the image processing library. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies that prevent execution of untrusted image files, particularly those with .rle extensions. Network-based protections should include content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious .rle file patterns, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for abnormal memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted image files and the importance of keeping software updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in image processing applications, as these components often handle untrusted data from external sources.