CVE-2017-14580 in XnView Classic
Summary
by MITRE
XnView Classic for Windows Version 2.41 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted .jb2 file, related to a "User Mode Write AV starting at jbig2dec+0x000000000000870f."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
CVE-2017-14580 represents a critical buffer overflow vulnerability affecting XnView Classic for Windows version 2.41 and potentially earlier versions. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the JBIG2 image decoding component, specifically when processing maliciously crafted .jb2 files. The flaw manifests as a user mode write access violation at the jbig2dec+0x000000000000870f memory address, indicating that the application fails to properly bounds-check memory operations during JBIG2 decompression. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. This issue enables attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through carefully constructed malicious JBIG2 files that trigger the vulnerable code path during image rendering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and service disruption. When a victim opens a crafted .jb2 file within XnView Classic, the application's JBIG2 decoder processes the malformed input without proper sanitization, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that XnView Classic automatically processes and displays images from files, making it trivial for attackers to deliver malicious payloads through social engineering or automated exploitation techniques. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14580 should prioritize immediate software updates from the vendor, as version 2.42 and subsequent releases contain patches addressing the JBIG2 decoding vulnerability. Organizations should implement network-based restrictions to block .jb2 file extensions from being processed by XnView Classic, particularly in environments where untrusted file uploads or downloads occur. System administrators should consider disabling automatic image preview features for potentially malicious file types and implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable applications. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening unknown or untrusted image files, and security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia processing libraries, as highlighted by industry standards such as the OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices.