CVE-2017-15255 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) with PDF plugin version 4.43 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .pdf file, related to a "Read Access Violation starting at PDF!xmlParserInputRead+0x00000000001601b0."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15255 affects IrfanView version 4.44 when used with the PDF plugin version 4.43, presenting a critical security risk that can lead to denial of service conditions or potentially more severe unspecified impacts. This vulnerability manifests through the processing of maliciously crafted pdf files that trigger a read access violation within the PDF plugin's xmlParserInputRead function, specifically at the memory address PDF!xmlParserInputRead+0x00000000001601b0. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the pdf plugin component, which fails to properly handle malformed or specially constructed pdf documents that could exploit memory access patterns during parsing operations. This vulnerability represents a classic example of a buffer overflow or memory corruption flaw that can be exploited to disrupt normal application functionality.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves an attacker crafting a specially designed pdf file that, when opened by IrfanView with the vulnerable PDF plugin, causes the application to attempt reading from an invalid memory location. The read access violation occurs during the xml parsing phase of pdf document processing, where the plugin's xmlParserInputRead function attempts to access memory that has not been properly allocated or has already been freed. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can also be classified as CWE-119, representing weaknesses in memory management that allow for memory corruption. The specific nature of the vulnerability suggests that the pdf plugin does not adequately validate the structure of pdf documents before attempting to parse their xml components, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the parsing process through carefully constructed input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it could potentially allow for more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment and the attacker's objectives. When an application crashes due to a read access violation, it typically results in a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate users from accessing the application's functionality. However, in some scenarios, such memory corruption vulnerabilities can potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code if the application's memory management is sufficiently compromised. The vulnerability affects users who rely on IrfanView for pdf document viewing, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted pdf content or where automated processing of pdf files occurs. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users might open pdf attachments from unknown sources or in automated systems that process pdf documents without proper validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15255 should focus on immediate patching of the affected software components, as the vulnerability is specifically tied to a known issue within the PDF plugin version 4.43. Users should upgrade to the latest version of IrfanView that includes a patched PDF plugin, or alternatively disable the PDF plugin functionality until a proper update is applied. Organizations should implement strict pdf document validation policies and consider deploying sandboxing mechanisms when processing pdf files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management in plugin architectures, as these components often represent attack surfaces that are less frequently updated or audited than core application components. Security teams should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other pdf processing libraries and plugins, as this type of memory corruption vulnerability is relatively common in document parsing components due to the complex nature of pdf file structures and the numerous parsing operations required to render pdf content properly. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1203, which covers exploitation for execution, and potentially T1499, related to network denial of service, depending on the specific impact and exploitation method employed.