CVE-2017-9920 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!LdrpResSearchResourceInsideDirectory+0x000000000000029e."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9920 affects IrfanView version 4.44 32bit when utilizing the TOOLS Plugin version 4.50. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper handling of malformed input data within the image processing pipeline. The vulnerability manifests through a faulting address that controls branch selection within the ntdll module, specifically at the LdrpResSearchResourceInsideDirectory function. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows and memory corruption issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when IrfanView processes a specially crafted file that triggers an unexpected execution path within the Windows loader component. The faulting address ntdll_77df0000!LdrpResSearchResourceInsideDirectory+0x000000000000029e serves as the critical point where the application's memory management fails to properly validate input data. This particular location within the Windows NT loader represents a sensitive area where resource searching and loading operations occur, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to manipulate program flow through crafted input sequences. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow and CWE-125 out-of-bounds read conditions that are commonly exploited in Windows-based applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems running affected versions of IrfanView, particularly in enterprise environments where image processing applications are widely deployed. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors through the execution of malicious payloads. The denial of service aspect further compounds the risk as it can be used to disrupt legitimate operations by causing application crashes or system instability. Organizations using IrfanView for document processing, image management, or multimedia applications face potential exposure to attacks that could compromise entire network infrastructures through compromised endpoints.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9920 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest versions of IrfanView and the TOOLS Plugin. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted file sources. Additionally, organizations should deploy application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized binaries and consider implementing behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous execution patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 command and script interpreter which can be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious code through compromised applications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other image processing applications and multimedia frameworks. Given the nature of this vulnerability, it is crucial to maintain updated security patches and consider alternative image processing solutions that have been verified through security audits.