CVE-2024-11523
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of IrfanView. Attackers can exploit this by tricking users into opening malicious DXF files, leading to memory corruption and potential system compromise. All users of affected IrfanView versions are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- IrfanView
📦 What is this software?
Irfanview by Irfanview
Irfanview by Irfanview
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining full control over the victim's machine, enabling data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to malware installation, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms being established on the compromised system.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and user privilege restrictions, potentially resulting in application crash rather than code execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction but is technically straightforward once a malicious DXF file is crafted. No authentication is required to trigger the vulnerability.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Latest version from vendor (check IrfanView website for specific version)
Vendor Advisory: https://www.irfanview.com/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Visit https://www.irfanview.com/
2. Download and install the latest version of IrfanView
3. Replace any existing installations with the updated version
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable DXF file association
windowsRemove IrfanView as the default handler for DXF files to prevent automatic opening
Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Associations > Find .DXF > Change program to Notepad or other safe viewer
Application sandboxing
windowsRun IrfanView in a restricted environment using application control solutions
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to block IrfanView execution entirely
- Use network segmentation to isolate systems running IrfanView from critical assets
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check IrfanView version via Help > About. If version is older than the patched release, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
Not applicable - check via GUI Help > About menuVerify Fix Applied:
Verify IrfanView version matches or exceeds the patched version in Help > About dialog.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- IrfanView process crashes when opening DXF files
- Unusual child processes spawned from IrfanView.exe
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of DXF files from untrusted sources
- Outbound connections from IrfanView process to unknown IPs
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where Image ends with 'IrfanView.exe' and CommandLine contains '.dxf'