CVE-2017-14539 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView 4.44 - 32bit allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .svg file, related to "Data from Faulting Address controls Branch Selection starting at image00000000_00400000+0x000000000011d767."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14539 affects IrfanView version 4.44 32-bit implementation and represents a critical denial of service condition that can potentially lead to more severe consequences. This flaw manifests when the image viewer processes specially crafted svg files that contain malformed data structures. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of faulting addresses during branch selection operations within the image processing pipeline. The affected address range 0x00000000_00400000+0x000000000011d767 indicates a precise memory location where the application's execution flow becomes compromised, creating a potential vector for arbitrary code execution or system instability. This issue falls under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited through crafted input files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted graphics content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within IrfanView's svg parser component, which fails to properly sanitize or reject malformed data structures before processing them. When the application encounters a crafted svg file, it attempts to interpret the data at the specified memory address, leading to unpredictable behavior in the branch selection mechanism. This particular faulting address represents a critical point in the application's execution flow where control transfer occurs, making it an attractive target for exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with stack-based buffer overflows or heap corruption scenarios, where attacker-controlled data influences program execution paths. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the flaw could potentially allow attackers to manipulate execution flow, leading to privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the system configuration and execution context.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on IrfanView for image processing tasks, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. The attack surface expands when considering that svg files are commonly used in web applications, email attachments, and various digital media formats, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when targeting specific system configurations. The impact assessment reveals that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data loss, or service disruption, making this a high-priority vulnerability for immediate remediation. Organizations using IrfanView should consider the potential for this vulnerability to be leveraged in advanced persistent threat scenarios where attackers seek to establish persistent access through image-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14539 should include immediate patching of affected IrfanView installations to version 4.45 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the svg parsing vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict file type validation and sandboxing measures when processing image files, particularly in multi-user environments or public-facing systems. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help prevent malicious svg files from reaching vulnerable systems. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree model, where initial access through file processing leads to escalation opportunities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual file processing patterns or memory access violations that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation and ensure that IrfanView runs with minimal required permissions. This vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that require comprehensive code review and input validation improvements. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving execution through file processing, where adversaries leverage legitimate system tools to execute malicious code through crafted input files.