CVE-2013-4474 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in the extractPages function in utils/pdfseparate.cc in poppler before 024.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via format string specifiers in a destination filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The CVE-2013-4474 vulnerability represents a format string vulnerability within the poppler PDF processing library, specifically within the extractPages function located in utils/pdfseparate.cc. This flaw exists in poppler versions prior to 024.2 and demonstrates a critical security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to induce denial of service conditions through carefully crafted format string specifiers embedded within destination filenames. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling of user-supplied data within the library's PDF manipulation utilities, particularly when processing page extraction operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the pdfseparate utility processes PDF files and attempts to extract specific pages to destination files. The extractPages function fails to properly sanitize or escape format string specifiers that may be present in the destination filename parameter provided by users. When the application processes these malformed input parameters, it inadvertently interprets the format specifiers as instructions for formatting output rather than literal text, leading to unpredictable behavior and system crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-134 classification as a format string vulnerability where untrusted data is used in a format string context without proper validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to cause application crashes, which may result in system instability and service disruption for legitimate users. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on poppler for PDF processing, including web applications, document management systems, and any software that utilizes the pdfseparate utility for PDF page manipulation. Attackers can exploit this issue by crafting malicious PDF files or manipulating the destination filename parameters in ways that trigger the format string parsing error, leading to application termination and resource exhaustion.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4474 should prioritize immediate patching of affected poppler installations to versions 024.2 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and format string handling. System administrators should implement input sanitization measures that validate and filter filename parameters to prevent format string specifiers from being processed as part of user-supplied input. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, as attackers can leverage it to disrupt services and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources through service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where PDF processing is performed on untrusted input. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other PDF processing libraries and document handling components within the broader software ecosystem.