CVE-2019-17253 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE
IrfanView 4.53 allows a User Mode Write AV starting at JPEG_LS+0x000000000000a6b8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2024
CVE-2019-17253 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting IrfanView version 4.53 and potentially earlier versions. This vulnerability manifests as a user mode write access violation within the JPEG_LS decoding component of the image processing library. The flaw occurs at the memory address JPEG_LS+0x000000000000a6b8, indicating a specific location within the JPEG_LS decoder where memory corruption takes place during image parsing operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking when processing specially crafted JPEG_LS format images, allowing an attacker to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious JPEG_LS image file that triggers improper memory handling during decompression. When IrfanView attempts to parse such a file, the JPEG_LS decoder fails to validate input parameters properly, leading to a heap buffer overflow condition. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and can potentially be leveraged for arbitrary code execution in the context of the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it allows for memory corruption that could be exploited to overwrite critical program structures or execute malicious code within the application's memory space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to end users who may inadvertently open maliciously crafted image files. The attack surface is broad as IrfanView is widely used for image viewing across various operating systems, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted image content. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into opening malicious files, or through automated exploitation in web-based environments where image processing occurs. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it occurs during normal image viewing operations, making detection and prevention challenging.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of IrfanView where this vulnerability has been addressed. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in image processing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in image processing components. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable applications and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted image files and the importance of keeping software updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for regular security assessments of image processing libraries and adherence to secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in other software components.