CVE-2017-9917 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) with TOOLS Plugin 4.50 might allow attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted file, related to "Data from Faulting Address is used as one or more arguments in a subsequent Function Call starting at ntdll_77df0000!RtlFreeHandle+0x0000000000000218."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9917 affects IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) when used with TOOLS Plugin version 4.50, representing a critical denial of service weakness that could potentially escalate to more severe impacts. This issue stems from improper handling of malformed input data within the image processing pipeline, specifically when the application attempts to process crafted files that trigger memory corruption conditions. The flaw manifests during the execution of ntdll functions, particularly at the RtlFreeHandle function where faulting address data is improperly utilized as arguments in subsequent function calls, creating a cascade of memory management failures that can lead to application instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a specially formatted file that, when opened by IrfanView, causes the application to dereference invalid memory addresses during the plugin processing phase. The vulnerability exists in the TOOLS Plugin component which interfaces with the core IrfanView application to handle extended image formats and processing capabilities. When the malicious file is processed, the application's memory management routines encounter corrupted data from a faulting address and attempt to use this invalid information as parameters for subsequent function calls, specifically within the Windows ntdll library. This pattern of memory corruption typically results in stack corruption or heap corruption that ultimately leads to application crash or system instability, with potential for more severe consequences depending on the execution context and available privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who rely on IrfanView for image processing tasks, particularly in environments where automated image handling or batch processing occurs. The denial of service impact can disrupt workflows and potentially provide attackers with a means to cause availability disruptions in systems where IrfanView is used as part of automated processing pipelines. The unspecified nature of potential additional impacts suggests that under certain conditions, this vulnerability could potentially allow for arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation, though such scenarios would require additional exploitation vectors or specific environmental conditions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities, both of which are commonly associated with memory corruption issues in image processing applications.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it could potentially be leveraged in more sophisticated attacks within specific contexts. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which involves command and script injection, as the application crash could potentially be used to obscure malicious activities or as part of a multi-stage attack. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in image processing libraries, particularly when dealing with third-party plugins that may not adhere to the same security standards as the core application. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability as soon as possible, as the combination of IrfanView's widespread usage and the potential for privilege escalation makes this a high-priority security concern.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches or updates that address the memory corruption issue within the TOOLS Plugin component. System administrators should implement strict file validation procedures and consider restricting the use of third-party plugins until proper security assessments have been completed. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while regular security monitoring should be employed to detect any unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and the risks associated with plugin-based architectures that may introduce additional attack vectors into otherwise secure applications.