Foo Labs Xpdf 3.x Embedded Font input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Foo Labs Xpdf 3.x and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Embedded Font Handler. The manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2008-1693. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Foo Labs Xpdf 3.x (Document Reader Software) and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown part of the component Embedded Font Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The CairoFont::create function in CairoFontEngine.cc in Poppler, possibly before 0.8.0, as used in Xpdf, Evince, ePDFview, KWord, and other applications, does not properly handle embedded fonts in PDF files, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted font object, related to dereferencing a function pointer associated with the type of this font object.

The weakness was published 04/18/2008 by Kees Cook (Website). The advisory is shared at rhn.redhat.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2008-1693 since 04/08/2008. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 67689 (Oracle Linux 4 : gpdf (ELSA-2008-0262)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Oracle Linux Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 117329 (CentOS Security Update for Poppler (CESA-2008:0239)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at rhn.redhat.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (41884), Tenable (67689), SecurityFocus (BID 28830†), OSVDB (44434†) and Secunia (SA31035†). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 67689
Nessus Name: Oracle Linux 4 : gpdf (ELSA-2008-0262)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 60795
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 1548-1 (xpdf)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: rhn.redhat.com

Timelineinfo

04/08/2008 🔍
04/17/2008 +9 days 🔍
04/17/2008 +0 days 🔍
04/17/2008 +0 days 🔍
04/18/2008 +1 days 🔍
04/18/2008 +0 days 🔍
04/18/2008 +0 days 🔍
04/18/2008 +0 days 🔍
04/27/2008 +8 days 🔍
05/06/2008 +9 days 🔍
07/12/2013 +1893 days 🔍
05/31/2025 +4341 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: rhn.redhat.com
Researcher: Kees Cook
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2008-1693 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-1693
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-3685

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 41884 - Poppler CairoFont::create code execution, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 28830 - Poppler and Xpdf PDF Rendering Library Embedded Font Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Secunia: 31035 - Debian update for poppler, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 44434 - Xpdf PDF Embedded Fonts Processing Arbitrary Code Execution
SecurityTracker: 1019893 - Xpdf Bug in Processing Embedded Fonts Lets Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code
Vulnerability Center: 18264 - Poppler CairoFontEngine.cc Improper Handling of Embedded Fonts Allows Remote Code Execution and DoS, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2008-1266

Entryinfo

Created: 05/06/2008 10:04 AM
Updated: 05/31/2025 10:47 PM
Changes: 05/06/2008 10:04 AM (89), 06/02/2019 08:54 AM (6), 03/16/2021 01:40 PM (3), 05/31/2025 10:47 PM (22)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 18:F72:40

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