CVE-2017-9890 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) with FPX Plugin 4.46 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .fpx file, related to a "Read Access Violation starting at FPX+0x000000000000153a."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9890 affects IrfanView version 4.44 when used with the FPX Plugin version 4.46, representing a critical security flaw that can be exploited through maliciously crafted file formats. This issue specifically targets the handling of .fpx files, which are part of the FlashPix image format standard commonly used for high-resolution digital images. The vulnerability manifests as a read access violation within the plugin's memory management system, indicating that the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it, creating a potential entry point for malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory access handling within the FPX plugin component of IrfanView, where a crafted .fpx file can trigger a memory access violation at the specific address offset 0x000000000000153a. This type of memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to system instability or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of buffer overflows and memory corruption issues, where the plugin's code fails to properly validate the structure and content of incoming file data, allowing attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute unintended operations.
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 including system compromise or unauthorized code execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw by preparing a malicious .fpx file that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, triggers the memory access violation and potentially allows for privilege escalation or remote code execution. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where IrfanView is used for opening untrusted image files, such as email attachments or file sharing platforms, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on this image viewing software.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. The attack surface for this vulnerability is broad given IrfanView's widespread use across various operating systems and its integration with numerous file handling processes. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching or mitigation strategies, including disabling the FPX plugin until a security update is available, implementing file validation policies, and restricting user access to potentially malicious file formats. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia software plugins, particularly those handling complex file formats that require extensive parsing and memory management operations.