CVE-2010-5110 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
DCTStream.cc in Poppler before 0.13.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted PDF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5110 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Poppler PDF rendering library, specifically affecting versions prior to 0.13.3. This issue resides in the DCTStream.cc component which handles JPEG decompression operations within PDF documents. The vulnerability manifests when processing malformed or specially crafted PDF files that contain maliciously constructed JPEG data streams, leading to application crashes and potential system instability. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited through improper input validation and handling of external data sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and input validation within the JPEG decompression routine. When Poppler encounters a malformed DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) stream within a PDF file, the DCTStream.cc code fails to properly validate the stream boundaries and data structure integrity. This lack of proper validation allows attackers to craft PDF documents containing malformed JPEG data that triggers buffer overflows, invalid memory accesses, or other memory corruption conditions during the decompression process. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of image processing and document parsing, where PDF viewers must handle various compression formats including JPEG, making it a prime target for exploitation through crafted multimedia content within PDF documents.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Poppler-based PDF rendering systems, including web browsers, document viewers, and content management systems. Attackers can leverage this flaw to disrupt services by sending malicious PDF files to users or web applications that utilize Poppler for PDF processing. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities, as the crash conditions may provide opportunities for information disclosure or code execution under certain circumstances. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of PDF processing services, particularly in environments where automated PDF handling is prevalent.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5110 primarily involve upgrading to Poppler version 0.13.3 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms for JPEG stream processing. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the security updates promptly. Additionally, organizations can deploy defensive measures such as PDF content filtering, sandboxing mechanisms, and input validation layers to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service through application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious PDF file transfers and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts.