CVE-2017-10777 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 xnview+0x0000000000372b24."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
CVE-2017-10777 represents a critical vulnerability in XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 that demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition within the application's handling of RLE (Run-Length Encoded) image files. This vulnerability occurs when the application processes malformed RLE data structures that cause the program to read beyond allocated memory boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system instability. The faulting address mentioned in the vulnerability description indicates that the issue manifests specifically at offset 0x372b24 within the xnview executable, suggesting a precise memory access violation that can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a significant concern for security professionals as it can be leveraged to cause system crashes or potentially execute arbitrary code. When an attacker crafts a malicious .rle file with carefully manipulated data structures, the application's image parsing routine fails to properly validate input boundaries, resulting in the program attempting to access memory locations that it should not have access to, which can lead to denial of service conditions or more severe consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially enable attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources. The nature of the faulting address indicates that the vulnerability exists within the branch selection logic of the application, meaning that an attacker could manipulate program flow through carefully crafted input data. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through software vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of how image processing applications can become attack vectors due to insufficient input validation. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application but also poses risks to the broader system environment, particularly when XnView is used in automated processes or when users open files from untrusted sources. The issue demonstrates how seemingly benign file format parsing can become a significant security risk when proper boundary checking mechanisms are absent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10777 should focus on immediate patching of the affected XnView Classic version 2.40, as no reliable workarounds exist for this type of memory access violation. Security administrators should implement strict file type validation and sandboxing measures for all image file processing activities, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and boundary checking in multimedia processing applications, and organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as file extension filtering, content scanning, and network-based intrusion detection systems to prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of image processing software components are essential, as this vulnerability demonstrates how legacy applications can harbor critical flaws that remain undetected for extended periods. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting user permissions when opening image files can significantly reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while ensuring that all software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches and updates from vendors.