CVE-2020-23566Public exploit

Application hang via JPEG2000 plug-in infinite loop

Published Nov 5, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Infinite loop in IrfanView 4.53 allows local users to hang the application by processing a crafted JPEG 2000 image. The JPEG2000 plug-in's ShowPlugInSaveOptions_W path repeatedly invokes the same internal routine without reaching an exit condition. Exploitation requires local processing of the crafted JP2 file; the documented result is resource exhaustion and an application hang, not data access or code execution.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite loop in IrfanView 4.53 allows local users to hang the application by processing a crafted JPEG 2000 image. The JPEG2000 plug-in's ShowPlugInSaveOptions_W path repeatedly invokes the same internal routine without reaching an exit condition. Exploitation requires local processing of the crafted JP2 file; the documented result is resource exhaustion and an application hang, not data access or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-23566
Published
Nov 5, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 5, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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