CVE-2013-4473 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the extractPages function in utils/pdfseparate.cc in poppler before 0.24.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a source filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4473 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the poppler PDF processing library. This issue exists in the extractPages function located in utils/pdfseparate.cc and affects poppler versions prior to 0.24.2. The vulnerability manifests when processing PDF files through the pdfseparate utility, which is commonly used to extract individual pages from multipage PDF documents. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the input PDF file in such a way that triggers a buffer overflow condition during the extraction process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the extractPages function. When the utility processes a specially crafted PDF file, the function fails to properly validate the size of data being read from the source filename parameter. This allows an attacker to provide input that exceeds the allocated buffer space on the stack, causing memory corruption that leads to unpredictable behavior. The buffer overflow occurs because the code does not perform proper bounds checking before copying data into fixed-size stack buffers, making it susceptible to exploitation through carefully constructed malicious PDF files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can cause the pdfseparate utility to crash or, more critically, execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the user running the utility. This represents a significant security risk for systems that process untrusted PDF files, particularly in environments where the utility is used in automated workflows or web applications. The vulnerability affects any system using poppler versions before 0.24.2, making it widespread across many Linux distributions and other platforms that rely on this PDF processing library.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions occurring in stack memory. The attack pattern follows typical remote exploitation techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution and the Technique of Command and Scripting Interpreter. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in preventing such critical security flaws. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing additional security controls such as input sanitization, sandboxing, and network segmentation to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The fix implemented in poppler 0.24.2 involved proper bounds checking and input validation to prevent the buffer overflow condition from occurring during PDF processing operations.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical need for robust security practices in open source software libraries that form the foundation of many applications. PDF processing libraries like poppler are widely used across various platforms and applications, making vulnerabilities in these components particularly dangerous. System administrators and security professionals should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected poppler versions and ensure timely patch deployment. Additionally, implementing security monitoring and incident response procedures can help detect potential exploitation attempts and minimize the impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and the potential consequences of failing to address known security flaws in widely-used components.