CVE-2017-9879 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 "Data from Faulting Address controls subsequent Write Address starting at FPX!FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup+0x000000000000a525."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9879 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 flaw exists within the FPX_GetScanDevicePropertyGroup function at offset 0x000000000000a525, where data from a faulting address directly controls subsequent write operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of FPX file format metadata, particularly in how the plugin handles device property group structures. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious FPX files that trigger memory corruption when the vulnerable plugin attempts to process the malformed data structure. The flaw manifests as a classic buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data flows into a fixed-size buffer without proper validation, leading to potential memory corruption at predictable locations. This vulnerability falls under CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to enable arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. When a user opens a crafted FPX file, the overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information. This memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected by the attacker, effectively allowing remote code execution with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability affects Windows systems running IrfanView 4.44 with the FPX plugin installed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open multimedia files from untrusted sources. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it suitable for drive-by download scenarios or social engineering attacks. The specific offset mentioned in the vulnerability description indicates a precise memory layout that attackers can target for reliable exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9879 should focus on immediate patching of the affected software components. Users and organizations must update to IrfanView version 4.45 or later, which includes fixes for the FPX plugin buffer overflow vulnerability. System administrators should implement application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of IrfanView and its plugins to trusted environments, particularly in high-risk scenarios. Network-based mitigations can include content filtering that blocks .fpx files from untrusted sources, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file processing activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in multimedia plugins, as highlighted by CWE-707, Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for file processing applications to contain potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of third-party plugins and components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other software applications. Additionally, incident response procedures should include specific checks for this vulnerability in systems where IrfanView remains in use without proper updates, as the exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.