CVE-2024-11541
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious DXF files in IrfanView. Attackers can gain full control of the affected system with the same privileges as the user running IrfanView. All users of vulnerable IrfanView versions 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
Malicious actors send phishing emails with crafted DXF attachments, leading to malware installation or credential theft when users open the files.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing, user education, and file type restrictions preventing DXF file execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
User interaction required (opening malicious file), but exploitation is straightforward once the file is opened.
🛠️ 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 IrfanView from official website
2. Run installer and follow prompts
3. Verify version is 4.67 or higher
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable DXF file association
windowsRemove IrfanView as default handler for DXF files to prevent automatic opening
Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Associations > Find .dxf > Change to another program
Block DXF files at perimeter
allConfigure email/web gateways to block DXF attachments
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application allowlisting to block IrfanView execution
- Deploy endpoint protection with memory corruption detection
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check IrfanView version via Help > About, verify if below 4.67Check Version:
Not applicable - check via GUI Help > AboutVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 4.67 or higher in Help > About dialog📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- IrfanView process crashes with DXF files
- Unusual child processes spawned from IrfanView
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of DXF files from untrusted sources
- Outbound connections from IrfanView process
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where Image contains 'i_view' and CommandLine contains '.dxf'