CVE-2017-10760 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 COMCTL32!SetStatusText+0x0000000000000029."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10760 affects XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 and represents a critical security flaw that could enable attackers to execute denial of service attacks or potentially achieve other unspecified malicious impacts. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes a specially crafted .rle file format, which is a common raster image format used for storing bitmap images. The flaw resides within the COMCTL32.dll component, which is a core Windows library responsible for providing common user interface controls and functionality. The vulnerability occurs at the COMCTL32!SetStatusText+0x0000000000000029 memory address, indicating that the issue stems from how the application handles status text updates within its graphical user interface components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an application accesses memory beyond the bounds of a buffer, and potentially CWE-248, which covers exposure of a resource to the wrong sphere. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where attacker-controlled data from a faulting address influences branch selection within the application's execution flow. This type of vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution or system instability, as the application's normal execution path becomes unpredictable when processing malformed input. The COMCTL32.dll component's SetStatusText function becomes a critical point of failure when it receives malformed data from the crafted .rle file, causing the application to follow unintended execution branches that lead to system crashes or potential code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. When a user opens a malicious .rle file through XnView Classic, the application's processing of the file triggers the vulnerable code path within COMCTL32.dll, causing the application to crash or potentially allowing an attacker to inject and execute malicious code. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in software to execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects Windows systems where XnView Classic is installed and is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through social engineering tactics, where users might unknowingly open a malicious file, or through automated exploitation in compromised environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of XnView Classic to version 2.41 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this issue. System administrators should also implement strict file validation policies that prevent users from opening potentially malicious files, particularly those with .rle extensions from untrusted sources. Network-level protections such as sandboxing or file reputation systems can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of vulnerable applications until proper patches are applied. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in GUI applications, as well as the critical need for regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities in third-party software components.