CVE-2017-15261 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 "Possible Stack Corruption starting at PDF!xmlGetGlobalState+0x0000000000057b35."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15261 affects IrfanView version 4.44 when used with the PDF plugin version 4.43, representing a critical security flaw that can be exploited to cause denial of service or potentially more severe impacts through manipulation of PDF files. This issue manifests specifically when processing crafted PDF files that trigger stack corruption within the PDF plugin component, creating a potential attack vector that leverages memory corruption vulnerabilities in image viewing software. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through a commonly used plugin architecture that extends IrfanView's functionality to handle PDF documents, making it accessible to attackers who might exploit this weakness in various contexts where the software is deployed.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and memory management within the PDF plugin's handling of XML parsing operations, specifically at the PDF!xmlGetGlobalState function address 0x0000000000057b35. This stack corruption occurs during the processing of malformed PDF files that contain specially crafted XML structures or embedded content that causes the plugin to execute unintended memory operations. The vulnerability represents a classic stack buffer overflow scenario where the plugin fails to properly validate the size and structure of XML data extracted from PDF files, allowing attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully constructed input. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow category, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution when properly exploited.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks that could compromise system integrity. When an attacker successfully triggers this vulnerability, they can cause IrfanView to crash or behave unpredictably, but the underlying memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to execute malicious code on the target system. This risk is particularly elevated in environments where IrfanView is used to process untrusted files, such as email attachments, file sharing platforms, or automated document processing systems. The vulnerability affects both the stability of the application and the overall security posture of systems that rely on IrfanView for document handling, as it could serve as a foothold for more extensive attacks within network environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to patched versions of both IrfanView and the PDF plugin, as the vendor has released updates that correct the memory handling issues in the XML parsing routines. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing strict file validation policies that prevent processing of PDF files from untrusted sources, and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this specific vulnerability pattern. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059 command and scripting interpreter technique, as attackers might leverage the denial of service condition to establish persistence or escalate privileges through subsequent exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing measures for PDF processing operations and regularly audit their document handling workflows to ensure that vulnerable software components are not being used in production environments.