CVE-2017-10924 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView 4.44 (32bit) with FPX Plugin 4.47 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted .fpx file, related to a "User Mode Write AV starting at FPX!FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup+0x000000000000a529."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2020
CVE-2017-10924 represents a critical vulnerability in IrfanView version 4.44 when used with the FPX Plugin version 4.47, exposing users to potential arbitrary code execution or denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted .fpx files. This vulnerability manifests as a user mode write access violation within the FPX plugin component, specifically occurring at the FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup function address offset 0x000000000000a529. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and memory handling within the FPX file parsing routine, creating a condition where malformed data can trigger unexpected memory access patterns that lead to privilege escalation or system instability. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific manifestation involves heap corruption and memory management errors that are classified under CWE-787. Attackers can exploit this by crafting a specially formatted .fpx file that, when opened by IrfanView, triggers the vulnerable code path and allows for code execution with the privileges of the user running the application. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges beyond the ability to execute the image viewer application, making it a significant threat in environments where users may encounter untrusted image files. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling initial access through malicious file delivery, and T1059 for potential command execution if the exploit succeeds. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of device property groups within the FPX file format, where the plugin fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before attempting to write to memory locations. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user mode level, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass certain security controls and potentially escalate privileges to system level access, depending on the execution context and operating system configuration. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of implementing robust input validation and memory safety mechanisms, particularly in image processing libraries that must handle untrusted binary data from various file formats.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful crafting of the .fpx file structure to trigger the specific memory access violation pattern. The error occurs during the parsing of scan device property groups, where the FPX plugin attempts to write data to memory locations without proper bounds checking or validation of the incoming data structure. This creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the program flow through controlled data injection that leads to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through simple file opening operations, making it an attractive target for social engineering attacks where users are tricked into opening malicious files. The specific offset 0x000000000000a529 within the FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup function represents a critical memory access point where the application's memory management fails to properly handle unexpected data patterns. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability often indicates deeper architectural issues within the plugin architecture, suggesting that similar flaws may exist in other components that process untrusted binary data. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. Organizations should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their security posture, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted image content from various sources including email attachments, web downloads, or removable media. The exploitation complexity is relatively low, requiring only basic knowledge of file format manipulation and memory corruption techniques, which makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10924 should include immediate patching of IrfanView and the FPX plugin to versions that address the memory handling flaws. System administrators should implement strict file type restrictions and disable automatic opening of image files from untrusted sources. Network-level protections such as email filtering and web content filtering can help prevent users from encountering malicious .fpx files in the first place. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues in other image processing libraries and plugins. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of image viewers to known good versions only. Additionally, monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts can provide early warning of potential attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices and proper input validation in multimedia processing components, particularly those handling binary data formats that may contain embedded executable code. Regular updates to third-party libraries and plugins should be prioritized, as this vulnerability demonstrates how outdated components can create persistent security risks. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for image viewing operations to limit the potential impact of successful exploits, ensuring that even if an attacker succeeds in executing code, the damage remains contained within a restricted environment.