CVE-2017-14541 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 .svg file, related to "Data from Faulting Address controls Branch Selection starting at CADImage+0x000000000001f23e."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14541 affects XnView Classic for Windows version 2.40 and represents a critical denial of service condition that can potentially lead to more severe consequences. This issue manifests when the application processes specially crafted malicious svg files, demonstrating a fundamental flaw in the software's input validation and memory management capabilities. The vulnerability specifically occurs within the CADImage component of the software, where data from a faulting address directly influences branch selection logic, creating a dangerous condition that can disrupt normal application operation.
The technical flaw resides in how XnView Classic handles malformed svg file structures during the image processing phase. When the application encounters a crafted svg file, it fails to properly validate the input data, allowing maliciously constructed elements to trigger unexpected behavior in the CADImage module. The faulting address mentioned in the vulnerability description points to a specific memory location within the CADImage+0x00000000000001f23e offset where the branch selection mechanism becomes compromised. This creates a scenario where attacker-controlled data can manipulate the program flow, potentially leading to application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that are commonly classified as CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability through a crafted svg file, the target system may experience complete application crash, rendering the image viewing functionality unavailable. In certain configurations or when combined with other vulnerabilities, this could provide a foothold for further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates how image processing applications can become attack vectors, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted media content. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in software applications to achieve system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14541 should focus on immediate patching of the XnView Classic application to the latest version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent processing of untrusted svg files, particularly in environments where user input or external content is involved. Network-level controls can be deployed to filter potentially malicious svg files before they reach end-user systems, while application whitelisting solutions can help restrict execution of vulnerable versions. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other image processing applications. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted files remains crucial, as social engineering attacks often leverage such vulnerabilities to gain initial access to target systems.