CVE-2024-5874 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2024
IrfanView PNT File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of IrfanView. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of PNT files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-23969.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2025
The CVE-2024-5874 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw in IrfanView's handling of PNT (Paint) file format parsing, constituting a remote code execution vulnerability that poses significant security risks to affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the image processing component of IrfanView, specifically targeting how the application parses PNT files that contain paint data. The flaw originates from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data during the parsing process, creating a dangerous condition where maliciously crafted PNT files can trigger memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when IrfanView attempts to process a specially crafted PNT file that contains malformed or oversized data structures within its paint data section. During the parsing operation, the application allocates memory buffers to store the parsed paint data, but fails to validate the size and boundaries of the incoming data before writing to these buffers. This lack of boundary checking creates an opportunity for an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions including function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program data structures. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited through improper input validation, aligning with CWE-121 buffer overflow and CWE-787 out-of-bounds write patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and gain full control over the affected system. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios. When a user visits a malicious webpage containing a specially crafted PNT file or opens a malicious PNT file, the application's parsing routine triggers the out-of-bounds write condition, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the IrfanView process. This represents a significant risk to users who may unknowingly open malicious files or navigate to compromised websites, as the exploitation requires only user interaction through normal application usage patterns.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard remote code execution attack vectors as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically leveraging techniques related to execution through file parsing and memory corruption. Attackers can craft malicious PNT files that contain carefully constructed data payloads designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition when processed by IrfanView. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw places it within the ATT&CK tactic of Execution and the technique of Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can leverage the application's legitimate file processing capabilities to deliver malicious payloads. The ZDI-CAN-23969 reference indicates this vulnerability was identified through coordinated disclosure channels, highlighting the industry's approach to vulnerability management and responsible disclosure practices.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability, including updating to patched versions of IrfanView where available and implementing application whitelisting controls to restrict the execution of potentially malicious files. Security administrators should also consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block requests containing suspicious PNT file content. The vulnerability's requirement for user interaction makes user education and awareness programs essential components of the overall security posture, as users must be trained to avoid opening untrusted files or visiting compromised websites. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unusual file processing activities and implement logging mechanisms that can detect when IrfanView processes potentially malicious files, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.