CVE-2017-14818 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 8.3.1.21155. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of JPEG2000 images embedded in PDF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a read past the end of an allocated object. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-4982.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14818 represents a critical security flaw in Foxit Reader version 8.3.1.21155 that enables remote code execution through improper handling of JPEG2000 image data within PDF documents. This issue falls under the category of buffer over-read conditions, specifically manifesting as a lack of proper input validation during the parsing of embedded image formats. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple cybersecurity domains including software security, memory corruption, and exploit development, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently exchanged.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the JPEG2000 image parsing component of Foxit Reader's PDF processing engine. When the application encounters a maliciously crafted PDF file containing specially constructed JPEG2000 images, the parser fails to validate the boundaries of user-supplied data structures. This insufficient validation leads to a read past the end of allocated memory objects, creating a condition where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended data boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, though in this case the execution occurs through memory corruption rather than script interpretation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for remote code execution within the context of the currently running process. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious PDF files that contain malformed JPEG2000 images, which when opened or viewed by an unsuspecting user trigger the exploitable condition. The requirement for user interaction through visiting malicious web pages or opening malicious files aligns with the ATT&CK tactic T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, demonstrating how social engineering elements complement technical exploitation vectors. This makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against as it requires both endpoint security measures and user awareness training to provide comprehensive protection.
The exploitation chain for this vulnerability typically involves multiple stages of attack development where the initial buffer over-read condition is combined with other memory corruption vulnerabilities to achieve arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in security-critical applications. Organizations should implement layered defense strategies including regular software updates, network segmentation, and security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the need for robust sandboxing mechanisms and application whitelisting policies that can prevent unauthorized code execution even when such memory corruption vulnerabilities exist in widely used software applications.