CVE-2017-15768 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView version 4.50 - 64bit allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .tif file, related to "Data from Faulting Address controls Branch Selection starting at image000007f7_42060000+0x0000000000094113."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15768 affects IrfanView version 4.50 64-bit and represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited through maliciously crafted .tif image files. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to unpredictable behavior in the affected software. The flaw manifests when the application processes specially constructed TIFF files that contain malformed data structures, specifically targeting the image processing pipeline where the software attempts to handle image data from a faulting address. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through simple file manipulation without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the IrfanView image processing engine. When the application encounters a malformed TIFF file, it attempts to parse and process the data at a specific memory address location indicated by the faulting address reference. The branch selection mechanism within the software's execution flow becomes unpredictable when processing this malformed data, leading to potential crashes or arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that can be leveraged to disrupt normal application operation. The specific address mentioned in the vulnerability description points to a memory location within the image processing module where the software fails to properly validate input data before executing branch selection logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest potential for more severe consequences. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, particularly if the targeted environment allows for arbitrary file execution. The vulnerability affects systems running IrfanView 4.50 64-bit versions, which represents a significant user base given the application's widespread use for image viewing and processing. The remote exploitation potential makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter malicious TIFF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. The vulnerability could be weaponized in targeted attacks against specific user groups or organizations that rely heavily on image processing applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and application updates to address the underlying memory handling flaws. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures for TIFF files, particularly when these files originate from untrusted sources. The recommended approach involves updating to the latest version of IrfanView that includes fixes for this vulnerability, as provided by the vendor. Security measures should also include network-level filtering to prevent the automatic execution of image files and implementation of sandboxing techniques for image processing operations. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening image files from unknown or untrusted sources, and organizations should consider implementing automated threat detection systems that can identify and block potentially malicious image files. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow), highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures including input validation, memory protection mechanisms, and regular security updates to prevent exploitation attempts.