CVE-2017-9531 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) with FPX Plugin 4.46 allows 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+0x000000000000176c."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9531 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in IrfanView version 4.44 when utilizing the FPX Plugin version 4.46. This issue manifests through a user mode write access violation that occurs at the specific memory offset FPX+0x000000000000176c, indicating a precise location within the plugin's memory management structure where the overflow takes place. The flaw exists within the handling of .fpx file formats, which are part of the FlashPix image format specification used for high-resolution digital images. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious .fpx files that, when opened by the vulnerable IrfanView application, trigger the buffer overflow condition.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of memory corruption flaws, specifically aligning with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability operates through a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. When the FPX plugin processes a malformed file, the application fails to properly validate input data lengths and memory allocation sizes, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The precise memory address mentioned in the vulnerability description suggests that the overflow occurs during specific operations within the plugin's file parsing routine, making it potentially exploitable through carefully crafted input data that exceeds expected buffer limits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it enables full remote code execution capabilities when successfully exploited. An attacker could construct a malicious .fpx file that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, would allow remote code execution on the target system with the privileges of the user running IrfanView. This represents a significant security risk in environments where users might encounter untrusted image files, particularly in email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing scenarios. The vulnerability affects the 32-bit version of IrfanView specifically, indicating that the memory layout and address space constraints of the 32-bit architecture contribute to the exploitability of this particular flaw. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that IrfanView is widely used for image viewing and processing, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate or enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9531 should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable IrfanView version with the latest available updates from the vendor. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious image files, particularly those from untrusted sources. Security configurations should include disabling the FPX plugin entirely if it is not required for business operations, as this removes the attack vector entirely. Network-based mitigations such as email filtering and web content filtering can help prevent users from encountering malicious .fpx files in the first place. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that only permit execution of known good versions of IrfanView and its plugins. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for application execution and T1203 for exploitation of remote services, while the memory corruption aspect aligns with T1068 for local privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of IrfanView, with immediate remediation prioritized for high-risk environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in image processing libraries, emphasizing the need for security-by-design principles in multimedia application development.