CVE-2015-3632 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
Foxit Reader, Enterprise Reader, and PhantomPDF before 7.1.5 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and crash) via a crafted GIF in a PDF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3632 affects multiple Foxit software products including Foxit Reader, Enterprise Reader, and PhantomPDF versions prior to 7.1.5. This security flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited remotely through maliciously crafted GIF images embedded within PDF documents. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of image data during the parsing process, creating a path for attackers to manipulate memory structures and ultimately cause application crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to properly validate and sanitize GIF image data when processing PDF files. When a user opens a PDF containing a specially crafted GIF image, the parsing routine attempts to decode and render the image without adequate bounds checking or memory allocation validation. This leads to memory corruption that manifests as application instability and subsequent crashes. The flaw specifically relates to buffer overflows and memory management issues that fall under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual implementation involves heap corruption due to improper memory handling during image processing operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Foxit PDF readers for document processing and viewing. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can craft malicious PDF files and deliver them via email, web downloads, or other attack vectors without requiring user interaction beyond opening the document. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple crashes to potentially disrupt business operations where document processing is critical. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables remote code execution through application manipulation.
The security implications of CVE-2015-3632 extend beyond immediate service disruption to potential privilege escalation and information disclosure risks. While the primary impact is denial of service, the underlying memory corruption vulnerabilities often serve as stepping stones for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should consider the broader threat landscape where such vulnerabilities might be leveraged as part of multi-stage attack campaigns. The vulnerability affects a wide range of enterprise users and highlights the importance of keeping PDF processing software updated, particularly in environments where document exchange is frequent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Foxit software to version 7.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation and bounds checking fixes. Network administrators should implement content filtering measures to scan PDF documents before delivery to users, particularly in high-risk environments. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious document attachments and the importance of software updates remains crucial. The remediation process should also include monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and implementing application whitelisting where possible to prevent execution of untrusted PDF content. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and prioritize remediation based on risk exposure and business criticality.