CVE-2017-15260 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 "Data from Faulting Address may be used as a return value starting at PDF!xmlParserInputRead+0x0000000000129a59."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15260 affects IrfanView version 4.44 when used with the PDF plugin version 4.43, representing a critical security flaw that can be exploited to trigger denial of service conditions or potentially execute arbitrary code. This issue stems from improper handling of malformed PDF files within the IrfanView application's PDF processing capabilities, specifically manifesting in the PDF!xmlParserInputRead function where data from a faulting address is incorrectly utilized as a return value. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption vulnerabilities, where the application fails to properly validate input data before processing, leading to unpredictable behavior when encountering crafted malicious PDF content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of PDF file structures that cause the XML parser within IrfanView's PDF plugin to encounter invalid memory addresses during parsing operations. When the PDF!xmlParserInputRead function attempts to process malformed input data, it references memory locations that may contain corrupted or uninitialized data, which then gets interpreted as valid return values. This memory access violation can result in application crashes, system instability, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the specific memory state at the time of the fault. The vulnerability's location within the XML parsing component suggests that the issue is not limited to PDF-specific content but rather extends to how the application handles structured data parsing in general.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15260 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks that could be leveraged by adversaries to gain unauthorized access to systems. The vulnerability's classification as potentially enabling unspecified other impacts aligns with common patterns in memory corruption flaws where the initial exploitation may not immediately result in code execution but creates conditions that could be exploited further. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, indicating memory safety issues that could lead to privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the target system configuration. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often appear in applications that process untrusted data without proper validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15260 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that address the PDF plugin memory handling issues, as the vendor has likely released patches to resolve the underlying parsing logic errors. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies that prevent users from opening potentially malicious PDF files, particularly in environments where IrfanView is used for document processing. Network security controls such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection by analyzing PDF content before it reaches the vulnerable application. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures that monitor for suspicious file processing activities. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of known vulnerable versions of IrfanView and its associated plugins, while maintaining regular vulnerability scanning to identify any similar issues in other document processing applications within their environment.