CVE-2017-9528 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) with FPX Plugin 4.46 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted .fpx file, related to a "User Mode Write AV starting at FPX!FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup+0x0000000000000f53."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-9528 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in IrfanView version 4.44 when processing specially crafted .fpx files through the FPX Plugin version 4.46. This issue manifests as a user mode write access violation within the FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup function, specifically at offset 0x0000000000000f53, which indicates a severe memory corruption flaw that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability resides in the image parsing functionality of the FPX plugin, which is designed to handle Fujifilm Photo Studio files, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered when users open maliciously crafted image files. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of metadata structures within the FPX file format, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient validation of input data leads to memory corruption. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it a prime candidate for drive-by download attacks and automated exploitation campaigns. The specific memory access violation occurs during the processing of scan device property groups, where the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before attempting to write to allocated memory regions. The exploitation can result in either arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the victim's user account or a denial of service condition that crashes the IrfanView application, effectively rendering it unusable for legitimate image viewing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9528 extends beyond simple application instability, as it can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within a compromised system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors through the compromised IrfanView process. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, where the successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution through the application's memory corruption. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, as the memory corruption could potentially be used to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations using IrfanView for image processing, particularly those with less technical users or in environments where automated downloads occur, face significant risk from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9528 should include immediate patching of IrfanView to version 4.45 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the FPX plugin buffer overflow. System administrators should also implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of IrfanView and its plugins to trusted environments, while monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. Network-level defenses can include content filtering to prevent automatic download of .fpx files from untrusted sources, and endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and memory safety practices, with recommendations for developers to implement proper bounds checking and use modern programming techniques that prevent buffer overflows. Organizations should also consider implementing regular security assessments of image processing applications and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting similar vulnerabilities in other image processing software.