CVE-2013-1789 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
splash/Splash.cc in poppler before 0.22.1 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via vectors related to the (1) Splash::arbitraryTransformMask, (2) Splash::blitMask, and (3) Splash::scaleMaskYuXu functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1789 affects the poppler library version 0.22.1 and earlier, specifically within the splash graphics rendering component. This issue represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by context-dependent attackers to crash applications relying on poppler for PDF processing. The vulnerability resides in the Splash graphics rendering engine which is responsible for handling various graphical operations within PDF documents, making it a significant concern for any software that processes PDF content. The affected functions demonstrate a pattern of NULL pointer dereference that occurs during specific graphical rendering operations, fundamentally compromising the stability of applications using this library.
The technical flaw manifests in three distinct functions within the Splash graphics engine: Splash::arbitraryTransformMask, Splash::blitMask, and Splash::scaleMaskYuXu. These functions handle different aspects of mask operations and graphical transformations within the PDF rendering pipeline. When processing malformed or specially crafted PDF content, these functions fail to properly validate input parameters before attempting to dereference pointers, leading to NULL pointer dereference conditions. The vulnerability is context-dependent because it requires specific conditions to be met during PDF processing, typically involving particular mask operations that trigger the flawed code paths. This characteristic makes the vulnerability difficult to exploit automatically but still presents a substantial risk to applications that process untrusted PDF files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect any application that utilizes poppler for PDF rendering including web browsers, document viewers, and server-side PDF processing systems. When exploited, the vulnerability causes applications to crash abruptly, potentially leading to denial of service conditions that can affect availability of critical services. The nature of the crash is particularly concerning as it represents an unhandled exception that can occur during normal PDF processing operations, meaning that legitimate documents could trigger the vulnerability. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous in environments where applications process PDF files from untrusted sources without proper input validation.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and the broader ATT&CK framework category of privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with the technique of service disruption and can be classified under the broader category of software exploitation patterns where improper input handling leads to application instability. Organizations using poppler should prioritize immediate patching to version 0.22.1 or later, as this release contains the necessary fixes for the NULL pointer dereference conditions in the affected Splash functions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sandboxing measures for PDF processing applications can provide additional defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities that may not yet be patched.