CVE-2017-14281 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 "Data from Faulting Address is used as one or more arguments in a subsequent Function Call starting at jbig2dec+0x00000000000090f1."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14281 affects XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 and represents a critical denial of service condition that can potentially lead to unspecified additional security impacts. This flaw manifests when the application processes a specially crafted .jb2 file, which is a format used for storing compressed bitmap images. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed data within the JBIG2 image format processing pipeline, specifically within the jbig2dec library component that XnView Classic utilizes for image decoding.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the application manages memory access during the processing of faulting addresses within the jbig2dec library. When a maliciously constructed .jb2 file is loaded, the application encounters a faulting address that contains invalid or unexpected data. This problematic data is then used as arguments in subsequent function calls, creating a cascade of execution issues that can result in application crashes or system instability. The specific function call location referenced in the vulnerability description at jbig2dec+0x00000000000090f1 indicates where the vulnerable code path begins, suggesting a memory corruption scenario that can be exploited through crafted input data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users who may unknowingly open maliciously crafted .jb2 files, particularly in environments where automatic image preview functionality is enabled. The denial of service impact can disrupt normal workflow operations, forcing users to restart applications or potentially reboot systems. The unspecified other impacts suggest that while the primary effect is denial of service, there may be additional security implications including potential privilege escalation or information disclosure depending on the execution context and system configuration. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where image viewing applications are frequently used and may be accessed by untrusted users or automated processes.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution, and also relates to CWE-248, "Uncaught Exception" which can result in application instability and denial of service. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code or cause system instability. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of XnView Classic, implementing file type restrictions for .jb2 files, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted image files and system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of vulnerable versions of the software. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in multimedia processing applications, particularly those that rely on third-party libraries for format handling.