CVE-2017-15743 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView 4.50 - 64bit with CADImage plugin version 12.0.0.5 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .dwg file, related to "Data from Faulting Address may be used as a return value starting at CADIMAGE+0x00000000003d24a0."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15743 represents a critical denial of service condition affecting IrfanView version 4.50 64-bit when utilizing the CADImage plugin version 12.0.0.5. This flaw manifests through the processing of maliciously crafted .dwg files that contain malformed data structures. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the CADImage plugin component, which fails to adequately sanitize or validate the data extracted from faulting addresses during the file parsing process. The specific memory address referenced in the vulnerability description at CADIMAGE+0x00000000003d24a0 indicates a critical point in the plugin's execution flow where erroneous data is being treated as a valid return value, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a specially formatted .dwg file that triggers a memory access violation within the CADImage plugin. During the parsing of such malicious files, the plugin attempts to extract data from a faulting memory address and subsequently uses this data as a return value, which can result in memory corruption or arbitrary code execution. This behavior aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, where the application reads data from memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a heap-based buffer overflow when the plugin processes the malformed data, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow through the return value mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more severe security consequences. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause IrfanView to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the application unusable for legitimate users. However, the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that under certain conditions, attackers might be able to leverage this flaw for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or remote code execution. The vulnerability affects a widely used image viewing application, making it particularly dangerous as users may unknowingly trigger the exploit while opening seemingly benign .dwg files, which are commonly used in engineering and architectural contexts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the CADImage plugin to version 12.0.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the memory handling issues. System administrators should also implement file validation mechanisms that scan for potentially malicious .dwg files before they are processed by IrfanView. The use of application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques can further reduce the risk of exploitation by limiting the execution environment of the vulnerable plugin. Additionally, network security controls such as intrusion prevention systems should be configured to monitor for patterns associated with this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening untrusted .dwg files, particularly those received through email attachments or downloaded from unverified sources. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in plugin architectures and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation across all components of multimedia applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, as it allows adversaries to execute malicious code through the exploitation of application vulnerabilities, and T1499: Endpoint Denial of Service, as it can be used to cause system unavailability through resource exhaustion or application crashes.