CVE-2017-14284 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 controls Branch Selection starting at ntdll_77400000!RtlGetCurrentDirectory_U+0x000000000000016c."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14284 affects XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40, representing a critical denial of service condition that could potentially lead to more severe consequences. This flaw manifests through improper handling of maliciously crafted .jb2 files, which are JPEG 2000 image format files used for storing high-quality images. The vulnerability specifically occurs within the ntdll component of the Windows operating system, where a faulting address controls branch selection, indicating a low-level memory management issue that impacts system stability and security posture.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation and processing of malformed .jb2 file structures within XnView Classic's image parsing routines. When the application attempts to load a specially crafted .jb2 file, it triggers an exception in the Windows ntdll library at the address ntdll_77400000!RtlGetCurrentDirectory_U+0x000000000000016c, which represents a critical system function responsible for retrieving the current directory path. This faulting address demonstrates that the vulnerability exploits a control flow hijacking mechanism where the program's execution path becomes unpredictable due to improper input handling. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially allow attackers to manipulate system execution flow and compromise overall system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks that leverage the branch selection manipulation to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges. Attackers can craft malicious .jb2 files that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, cause XnView Classic to crash or behave unpredictably, potentially leading to system instability or complete system lockup. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that it may provide a foothold for additional attacks, including privilege escalation or information disclosure. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where image viewing applications are commonly used and where users may inadvertently open malicious files through social engineering or other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of XnView Classic to version 2.41 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the .jb2 file parsing routines. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of untrusted image files. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious .jb2 file transfers. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening image files from untrusted sources, and organizations should implement regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other image processing applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through malicious file formats, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures.