CVE-2024-5877 in IrfanView
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2024
IrfanView PIC 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 PIC files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write before the start of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-23974.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2025
The CVE-2024-5877 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw in IrfanView's handling of PIC (Portable Image Compressed) files, constituting a remote code execution vulnerability that poses significant risks to affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write category, which is classified as a serious weakness in software security where a program writes data past the end of a buffer, potentially corrupting adjacent memory. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing of PIC file structures, where IrfanView fails to properly validate user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code within the application's context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking during the processing of PIC file headers and data structures. When IrfanView encounters a maliciously crafted PIC file, the application's parsing routine does not adequately verify the dimensions, offsets, or data lengths specified within the file format. This lack of validation enables an attacker to craft a file that causes the application to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting critical memory segments including function pointers, return addresses, or other control data structures. The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, meaning that a target must either open the malicious file or visit a webpage containing the malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows attackers to gain full control over the affected system when IrfanView is used to process the malicious PIC file. Since IrfanView runs with the privileges of the user who opens the file, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, especially if the user has administrative rights. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious PIC files through various vectors including email attachments, compromised websites, or file sharing platforms. This makes the attack surface particularly broad, as users may inadvertently encounter malicious files while browsing or downloading content from untrusted sources.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework's T1203 Suspicious Link and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter tactics, as the exploitation typically involves users interacting with malicious content. The vulnerability's impact aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1548.001 Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism through privilege escalation, as attackers may leverage the code execution to gain higher privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of IrfanView where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing file type restrictions in email and web gateways, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted image files. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious file processing activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in multimedia file processing applications, as these components often handle untrusted data from external sources.