CVE-2017-14279 in XnView Classic
Summary
by MITRE
XnView Classic for Windows Version 2.40 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .jb2 file, related to a "Read Access Violation starting at jbig2dec+0x0000000000005643."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
CVE-2017-14279 represents a critical vulnerability in XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 that manifests through improper handling of maliciously crafted .jb2 files. This vulnerability stems from a read access violation occurring at the jbig2dec library component within the software's image processing pipeline. The flaw specifically targets the JBIG2 decoder implementation where insufficient input validation leads to memory access violations during file parsing operations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which directly enables attackers to exploit memory corruption issues through malformed input data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when XnView Classic attempts to process a specially crafted .jb2 file that contains malformed JBIG2 data structures. The jbig2dec library component, responsible for decoding JBIG2 formatted images, fails to properly validate input parameters before attempting memory operations. This results in a read access violation at the memory address jbig2dec+0x0000000000005643, which triggers a crash in the application's execution flow. The vulnerability can be leveraged to cause a denial of service condition by forcing the application to terminate unexpectedly, but may also potentially enable more severe impacts including arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14279 extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a potential pathway for persistent attacks against systems running vulnerable XnView Classic installations. Attackers can craft malicious .jb2 files that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, will trigger the memory violation and cause application instability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where image viewing applications are frequently used and users may inadvertently open malicious files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling process injection through application exploitation, and can be classified under T1059 for potential command execution scenarios. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can be amplified through social engineering campaigns where attackers distribute malicious files disguised as legitimate image content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14279 should prioritize immediate patching of XnView Classic to version 2.41 or later, which includes fixed jbig2dec library implementations that properly validate input data and prevent the memory access violations. Organizations should implement network-based controls such as file type filtering and content inspection to prevent malicious .jb2 files from reaching user systems, particularly in environments where XnView Classic is deployed. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of vulnerable software, and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected applications within the enterprise environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing libraries, aligning with industry standards that emphasize defensive programming techniques to prevent buffer overflows and memory corruption issues.