CVE-2017-15794 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 .dll file that is mishandled during an attempt to render the DLL icon, related to a "Read Access Violation starting at ntdll!LdrpResSearchResourceInsideDirectory+0x0000000000000257."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15794 represents a critical denial of service flaw in IrfanView version 4.50 64-bit edition that stems from improper handling of maliciously crafted dynamic link library files during icon rendering operations. This issue manifests when the application attempts to process a specially constructed .dll file that triggers a read access violation within the Windows native execution environment. The specific error occurs at the ntdll!LdrpResSearchResourceInsideDirectory function address 0x257, indicating a low-level operating system component failure during resource resolution processes. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that can be exploited through improper input validation and resource management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious .dll file that, when processed by IrfanView for icon display purposes, causes the application to attempt accessing memory locations that are either unmapped or protected, resulting in a system crash or application hang. This type of flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and also aligns with CWE-248, representing an exception handling vulnerability where improper error handling leads to system instability. The root cause lies in the application's failure to properly validate the structure and content of external resources before attempting to parse them, particularly during the icon extraction process that relies on Windows system libraries for resource resolution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users who may unknowingly encounter maliciously crafted files in their digital environments, particularly in contexts where file browsing or thumbnail generation is automated. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the vulnerability may potentially enable arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and system configuration at the time of exploitation. Attackers could leverage this weakness to disrupt user workflows, potentially causing system instability in environments where IrfanView is used as a default image viewer or integrated into automated file processing systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, as simply opening a directory containing the malicious file could trigger the flaw during automatic icon generation, making it particularly dangerous in shared or untrusted computing environments.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15794 should prioritize immediate application updates to versions that address the underlying resource handling issues within the icon rendering subsystem. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and consider restricting automatic icon generation for potentially untrusted file types. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of script-based commands, particularly in scenarios where automated file processing could be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted .dll files and ensure that IrfanView is updated to versions that properly handle resource loading through improved memory management and input validation. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be employed to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class through anomalous file processing activities.