CVE-2024-11525
📋 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 potential system compromise. All users of IrfanView who open untrusted DXF files are affected.
💻 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 the same privileges as the logged-in user, potentially leading to 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 affected system.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to application sandboxing or restricted user privileges, potentially resulting in application crash rather than code execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file) but the vulnerability itself is well-documented and weaponization is likely given the RCE potential.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: IrfanView 4.67 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.irfanview.com/main_history.htm
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Download latest version from official IrfanView website. 2. Run installer. 3. Follow installation prompts. 4. Verify version is 4.67 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable DXF file association
windowsRemove IrfanView as default handler for DXF files to prevent automatic exploitation
Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Associations > Find .DXF > Change program to Notepad or other safe viewer
Block DXF files at perimeter
allPrevent DXF files from reaching users via email or web downloads
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executables from running
- Use restricted user accounts with minimal privileges for IrfanView usage
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Open IrfanView, go to Help > About, check if version is below 4.67Check Version:
irfanview.exe /?Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm IrfanView version is 4.67 or higher in Help > About dialog📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- IrfanView crash logs with memory access violations
- Windows Application logs showing IrfanView process termination
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from IrfanView process
- DXF file downloads from untrusted sources
SIEM Query:
process_name:"i_view64.exe" OR process_name:"i_view32.exe" AND (event_id:1000 OR event_id:1001) AND file_extension:".dxf"