CVE-2017-10767 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 KERNELBASE!StateObjectListFind+0x0000000000000005."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10767 affects XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 and represents a critical denial of service flaw that could potentially lead to more severe consequences. This issue manifests through the improper handling of crafted .rle files, which are Run-Length Encoded image format files commonly used for storing bitmap images. The vulnerability specifically involves a fault in how the application processes these files, creating a path where malicious input can disrupt normal application behavior and potentially lead to system instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies within the KERNELBASE!StateObjectListFind function, where data from a faulting address directly controls branch selection. This type of flaw falls under the category of control flow manipulation, where attacker-provided data influences program execution paths in unintended ways. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data from the malicious .rle file. The faulting address mentioned in the description indicates that the program's execution flow becomes unpredictable when processing malformed input, leading to potential crashes or system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who may encounter crafted .rle files through various attack vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or malicious file sharing platforms. The denial of service aspect means that legitimate users could experience application crashes or complete system hangs when attempting to open or process these malicious files. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that this vulnerability could potentially be leveraged for more advanced attacks, including privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution, though the primary documented effect remains denial of service. The vulnerability affects the core image processing functionality of XnView Classic, making it particularly dangerous for users who rely on this application for image management and viewing.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the techniques related to privilege escalation and denial of service. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the affected XnView Classic version, implementation of file type validation and sanitization measures, and user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted image files. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based restrictions on .rle file types and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of vulnerable software. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other image processing applications and ensure comprehensive security coverage across all system components.