CVE-2024-11566 Overview
CVE-2024-11566 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in IrfanView, a widely deployed Windows image viewer. The flaw exists in the parser responsible for handling AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format (DXF) files. Attackers can leverage the condition to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user process. Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must open a crafted DXF file or visit a page that delivers one. The vulnerability was reported through the Zero Day Initiative and tracked internally as ZDI-CAN-24868. It is classified under [CWE-125] Out-of-Bounds Read.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution in the user's security context, enabling malware installation, credential theft, and lateral movement from a single opened file.
Affected Products
- IrfanView 4.67 (x64)
- IrfanView 4.67 (x86)
- IrfanView installations with DXF file parsing support
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-22 - CVE-2024-11566 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-11566
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in IrfanView's DXF file parser. DXF is a text- or binary-based CAD interchange format containing sections, entities, and variable-length records. IrfanView parses these records to render preview images. The parser fails to validate boundary conditions on user-supplied structures before reading from allocated buffers. When a malformed DXF entity specifies a length or offset that extends past the allocated buffer, the parser reads adjacent memory. Attackers can chain this primitive with additional heap manipulation to redirect execution flow and run arbitrary code in the process context.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing validation of user-controlled length and index fields within DXF records. The parser trusts values embedded in the file when calculating read offsets. Without a bounds check against the allocated buffer size, crafted values force the code to read past the buffer boundary, producing the out-of-bounds condition described by [CWE-125].
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local file processing with required user interaction. An attacker delivers a crafted DXF file through email attachments, drive-by downloads, or shared file locations. Opening the file in IrfanView, or invoking IrfanView as the default handler for image or CAD previews, triggers the vulnerable parsing path. Because the code runs with the privileges of the current user, code execution inherits those privileges.
For technical exploitation details, refer to the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-24-1564.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-11566
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected DXF files delivered via email, chat, or web downloads to endpoints running IrfanView 4.67.
- Child processes spawned by i_view32.exe or i_view64.exe such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe.
- Crash artifacts or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing the IrfanView process during DXF file open operations.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for IrfanView processes reading .dxf files followed by anomalous network connections or process creation.
- Deploy YARA rules targeting DXF files containing malformed section headers and oversized entity length fields.
- Correlate file-write events in browser download and email attachment directories with subsequent IrfanView execution.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track IrfanView version inventory across endpoints and flag any host running the vulnerable 4.67 release.
- Alert on process memory-access violations originating from i_view32.exe or i_view64.exe.
- Log DXF file handoffs from browsers and mail clients to IrfanView for retrospective hunting.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-11566
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade IrfanView to a release later than 4.67 that addresses the DXF parsing flaw once published by the vendor.
- Remove .dxf from IrfanView's associated file extensions where DXF support is not required.
- Block inbound DXF attachments at the email gateway until patched builds are deployed.
Patch Information
No vendor advisory or patch URL is listed in the NVD entry at the time of publication. Users should consult the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-24-1564 and monitor the IrfanView download page for updated releases beyond version 4.67.
Workarounds
- Configure IrfanView to reject DXF files by removing the DXF plugin from the Plugins directory in the installation folder.
- Restrict IrfanView execution to trusted files only, using application allowlisting policies such as Windows Defender Application Control or AppLocker.
- Open untrusted DXF files inside a disposable virtual machine or sandbox to contain any exploitation attempt.
# Configuration example: remove the DXF plugin on Windows endpoints
del "C:\Program Files\IrfanView\Plugins\Cadimage.dll"
del "C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView\Plugins\Cadimage.dll"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
