CVE-2017-9919 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 execute arbitrary code via a crafted file, related to "Data from Faulting Address controls Branch Selection starting at ntdll_77df0000!LdrpResCompareResourceNames+0x0000000000000087."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9919 affects IrfanView version 4.44 32bit when used with TOOLS Plugin 4.50, presenting a critical security risk that could lead to either denial of service or arbitrary code execution. This flaw manifests through improper handling of crafted files that trigger memory corruption during the loading process, specifically within the plugin architecture of the image viewer application. The vulnerability originates from a faulting address within the ntdll module where resource name comparison operations fail to properly validate input data, creating a condition that attackers can exploit to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted file is processed by IrfanView's TOOLS plugin, causing the application to attempt resource name comparison operations with malformed data. The faulting address ntdll_77df0000!LdrpResCompareResourceNames+0x0000000000000087 represents a specific location within the Windows loader where resource name comparison functions are executed, and the zero offset indicates the precise instruction where the vulnerability manifests. This particular code path fails to properly validate memory addresses or resource identifiers, allowing attackers to manipulate the branch selection logic through carefully crafted input data that influences program control flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to end users and system administrators who rely on IrfanView for image viewing operations, particularly in environments where untrusted files might be encountered. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, while the denial of service component could disrupt legitimate business operations through application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability affects both individual users and enterprise environments where IrfanView is deployed as a standard image viewing application, making it particularly dangerous due to its widespread adoption and the ease with which malicious files could be distributed through email attachments, web downloads, or removable media.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could leverage the arbitrary code execution capability to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. The underlying CWE classification for this issue falls under CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read, as the vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during resource name comparison operations, and potentially CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write if the memory corruption leads to buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable versions, while users should avoid opening untrusted image files with IrfanView until the vulnerability is patched. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of IrfanView to version 4.45 or later, which addresses the resource name comparison logic and implements proper input validation to prevent the exploitation of this memory corruption vulnerability.
Organizations should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability, while conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of the software. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in plugin architectures and highlights the risks associated with third-party components that may not undergo the same security scrutiny as core applications. Regular security updates and patch management processes become essential for maintaining system integrity, particularly when dealing with image viewing applications that process potentially malicious content from various sources.