Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-13878 is a critical memory corruption issue in IrfanView B3D PlugIns before version 4.56. The CVE rates it 9.8 because exploitation could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The provided sources do not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize this for environments where IrfanView is used to process files from customers, vendors, or the public. The technical severity is critical, but urgency depends on whether the vulnerable B3D plugin is actually present.
Technical view
The vulnerability is a heap-based out-of-bounds write in B3d.dll at offset +27ef, classified as CWE-787. The CVSS v3.1 vector is AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Source metadata identifies affected software as IrfanView B3D PlugIns before 4.56, but structured affected CPE data is absent.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to systems with IrfanView and the B3D plugin installed below version 4.56. The source bundle does not identify operating systems, package names, CPEs, or default deployment paths.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. A public gist is referenced, but the bundle does not establish real-world exploitation. Treat public technical availability as a reason to prioritize validation without assuming active attacks.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse. The core facts are the vulnerable component, version threshold, CWE, CVSS vector, and a public gist reference. Structured affected product data is marked n/a, so researchers should verify plugin packaging and versioning directly in the environment.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade IrfanView B3D PlugIns to version 4.56 or later.
- Remove the B3D plugin where it is not operationally required.
- Restrict handling of untrusted B3D files until updated.
- Check IrfanView or vendor guidance for any newer plugin updates.
- Prioritize remediation on workstations processing externally supplied files.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for IrfanView and installed B3D plugin versions.
- Confirm B3d.dll is not from a pre-4.56 plugin package.
- Check software management records for outdated IrfanView plugin deployments.
- Review file-association and workflow exposure to B3D content.
- Document systems where the plugin is removed or updated.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-13878 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://gist.github.com/oicu0619/2b0eb7dd447aca8f4ab398a99f47488bCVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.