Displaying a folder containing an 8bit Index Colour image file causes Blender to crash.

REPEATABLE: Every display or Load of the image

REPRODUCTION:
1) Using MSPaint create an image file (512x512)
2) save as
3) Select 256 Color Bitmap
4) Open Blender 2.54.0 r31878
5) Select Texture Tab
6) Set Type to Image or Movie
7) Select Image - Open
8) Browse to folder with image in (IN THUMBNAIL MODE) or Select and Open image

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: blender.exe
Application Version: 0.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4c8b6d9d
Fault Module Name: blender.exe
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 4c8b6d9d
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0041a7ff
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160