CVE-2010-3704 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
The FoFiType1::parse function in fofi/FoFiType1.cc in the PDF parser in xpdf before 3.02pl5, poppler 0.8.7 and possibly other versions up to 0.15.1, kdegraphics, and possibly other products allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a PDF file with a crafted PostScript Type1 font that contains a negative array index, which bypasses input validation and triggers memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3704 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within PDF parsing libraries that affects multiple widely-used software components including xpdf, poppler, and kdegraphics. This issue stems from improper input validation within the FoFiType1::parse function which processes PostScript Type1 fonts embedded in PDF documents. The flaw manifests when the parser encounters a crafted PDF file containing a malicious Type1 font with a negative array index, allowing attackers to bypass normal input validation mechanisms and trigger unpredictable behavior in the affected applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer over-read condition that occurs during font parsing operations. When the FoFiType1::parse function processes a malformed Type1 font structure, the negative array index parameter causes the parser to access memory locations outside the intended array boundaries. This memory corruption can result in application crashes, potentially leading to denial of service conditions, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances. The vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic case of input validation bypass that enables memory safety violations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on PDF processing capabilities across various platforms and applications. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as the potential for arbitrary code execution means that attackers could gain unauthorized access to systems processing affected PDF documents. This vulnerability affects a broad range of software products including web browsers, document viewers, and server-side PDF processing applications, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently exchanged and processed. The vulnerability's exploitation requires contextual knowledge of PDF structures and font handling mechanisms, but the attack surface remains broad due to the widespread use of affected libraries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected software components, with particular emphasis on updating xpdf to version 3.02pl5 or later, poppler to version 0.8.7 or newer, and ensuring all related kdegraphics installations are updated. Organizations should implement network-based filtering to block suspicious PDF files and consider deploying sandboxed environments for PDF processing to contain potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify potentially unpatched systems, while application whitelisting policies can help prevent execution of unauthorized code in vulnerable applications.