CVE-2017-15256 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-15256 was published on October 11, 2017, by MITRE. The vulnerability affects IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) when used with PDF plugin version 4.43, potentially leading to denial of service or other unspecified impacts.

Understanding CVE-2017-15256

This CVE entry highlights a security flaw in IrfanView and its PDF plugin that could be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2017-15256?

The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate a .pdf file to trigger a denial of service or other impacts by exploiting the PDF!xmlListWalk+0x0000000000019fc8 function.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15256

The vulnerability could result in a denial of service or other unspecified impacts when a malicious .pdf file is used.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15256

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in IrfanView version 4.44 (32bit) with PDF plugin version 4.43 enables attackers to cause a denial of service or other impacts through a crafted .pdf file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
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Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by manipulating a .pdf file to control branch selection starting at PDF!xmlListWalk+0x0000000000019fc8.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-15256 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the affected versions of IrfanView and the PDF plugin if possible.
Implement network-level protections to filter out malicious .pdf files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and plugins to patch known vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe browsing habits and the risks associated with opening unknown files.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and apply patches provided by the software vendors to address the vulnerability.