CVE-2017-15764 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView 4.50 - 64bit with BabaCAD4Image plugin version 1.3 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .dwg file, related to a "Read Access Violation starting at BabaCAD4Image!ShowPlugInOptions+0x000000000001e6b0."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2017-15764 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting IrfanView 4.50 64-bit when utilizing the BabaCAD4Image plugin version 1.3. This issue stems from improper memory handling within the plugin's processing of CAD files, specifically targeting .dwg format files that contain maliciously crafted data structures. The vulnerability manifests as a read access violation occurring at the memory address BabaCAD4Image!ShowPlugInOptions+0x000000000001e6b0, indicating a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption scenario that can lead to application instability and potential system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when IrfanView processes a specially crafted .dwg file through the BabaCAD4Image plugin, which lacks proper input validation and memory bounds checking. This flaw falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read classification, where the plugin attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it a passive threat that can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability demonstrates how third-party plugins can introduce critical security gaps into otherwise stable applications, highlighting the importance of plugin security auditing.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on IrfanView for image processing tasks, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted files. The denial of service aspect can disrupt workflow processes and potentially lead to complete application crashes, forcing users to restart their systems and lose unsaved work. While the CVE description mentions "possibly have unspecified other impact," security researchers have noted this type of memory corruption vulnerability can potentially be leveraged for remote code execution in certain scenarios, especially when combined with other exploits or when the application is running with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects a broad user base since IrfanView is widely used in both personal and enterprise environments for image viewing and conversion tasks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15764 should prioritize immediate plugin removal or disabling of the BabaCAD4Image component until a patched version is available. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and consider sandboxing image processing applications to contain potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries may leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code, though in this case the threat is primarily from untrusted file processing rather than active attack. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain updated security patches for all third-party plugins. Regular security assessments of application plugins and extensions remain crucial for identifying similar vulnerabilities that could lead to more severe compromise scenarios, particularly in environments where legacy applications continue to be used without proper security maintenance.