CVE-2024-9260 Overview
CVE-2024-9260 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in IrfanView, a widely deployed Windows image viewer. The flaw resides in the parser for SID (Silicon Graphics Image) files and stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied data. Attackers can trigger a write past the end of an allocated buffer, leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user process. Exploitation requires user interaction: the target must open a malicious SID file or visit a page delivering one. The Zero Day Initiative tracked this issue as ZDI-CAN-23280 and published it under advisory ZDI-24-1373. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-Bounds Write).
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants remote attackers arbitrary code execution on the victim endpoint, enabling malware installation, credential theft, or lateral movement.
Affected Products
- IrfanView 4.66 (x64)
- IrfanView installations processing SID (Silicon Graphics Image) files
- Windows endpoints with IrfanView configured as default image handler
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-22 - CVE-2024-9260 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-9260
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists within IrfanView's SID file parsing logic. When IrfanView processes a specially crafted SID file, the parser fails to properly validate length or offset fields embedded in the file structure. This missing validation allows attacker-controlled data to be written beyond the bounds of an allocated heap buffer. The out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent heap metadata, function pointers, or object structures. Attackers who control the corrupted memory can redirect execution flow and run arbitrary code in the user context running IrfanView.
Root Cause
The root cause is inadequate bounds checking on values parsed from untrusted SID files. The parser trusts size or count fields inside the file header without validating that subsequent read and write operations remain within the destination buffer. This is a classic instance of CWE-787, where input-derived indices or lengths drive memory writes without a corresponding sanity check.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires the victim to open a malicious SID file. Delivery paths include email attachments, drive-by download pages, USB media, or files embedded in archives. Because IrfanView is frequently associated with image extensions in Windows, a double-click on a crafted file is sufficient to trigger the parser. The attacker gains code execution with the privileges of the invoking user, which on many workstations includes local administrator rights.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently listed for this issue. Technical details are documented in the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-24-1373.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9260
Indicators of Compromise
- SID files delivered from untrusted sources or arriving via email, chat, or web downloads
- Unexpected child processes spawned by i_view64.exe or i_view32.exe, such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or script hosts
- Crashes of the IrfanView process with access violation exceptions in the SID parser
- Outbound network connections initiated by IrfanView shortly after opening an image file
Detection Strategies
- Hunt for process creation events where IrfanView is the parent of shell or scripting binaries
- Alert on IrfanView loading unusual DLLs or executing shellcode-like memory regions via EDR memory telemetry
- Inspect file drops and persistence writes occurring within seconds of a SID file open event
- Correlate Windows Error Reporting crash telemetry from IrfanView with recent file opens
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable command-line and process-tree logging on endpoints running IrfanView
- Monitor mail and web gateways for SID file attachments and downloads
- Track software inventory to identify hosts running IrfanView 4.66 or earlier x64 builds
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9260
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade IrfanView to the latest release published after November 2024 that addresses the SID parser flaw
- Remove IrfanView from endpoints where it is not required for business use
- Disassociate the .sid file extension from IrfanView until patched
- Instruct users to avoid opening SID files from untrusted sources
Patch Information
Refer to the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-24-1373 for vendor coordination details and to the IrfanView download page for the latest version. No vendor advisory URL is listed in the NVD record at the time of publication. Verify installed version through Help > About IrfanView and confirm it postdates the fix.
Workarounds
- Block inbound SID file attachments at email gateways and web proxies
- Apply application control policies restricting IrfanView execution to trusted user groups
- Use Windows Attack Surface Reduction rules to block child process creation by image viewers
- Run IrfanView under a standard user account with Exploit Protection enabled for i_view64.exe
# Configuration example: enable Windows Exploit Protection for IrfanView
Set-ProcessMitigation -Name "i_view64.exe" -Enable DEP,SEHOP,ForceRelocateImages,BottomUp,HighEntropy,TerminateOnError
# Block SID file extension via Group Policy File Screen (example path)
# Deny read/execute on *.sid for standard users
icacls "C:\Users" /deny "Users:(OI)(CI)(RX)" /grant:r "Administrators:(OI)(CI)F"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
