CVE-2017-14946 in GSView
Summary
by MITRE
Artifex GSView 6.0 Beta on Windows allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted .pdf file, related to "Data from Faulting Address controls Branch Selection starting at mupdfnet64!mIncrementalSaveFile+0x000000000000344e."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2019
CVE-2017-14946 represents a critical vulnerability in Artifex GSView 6.0 Beta for Windows systems that demonstrates a classic buffer overflow condition within the PDF processing pipeline. This vulnerability manifests when the application encounters a specially crafted malicious PDF file that triggers an improper handling of memory allocation during the incremental save process. The faulting address specifically references mupdfnet64!mIncrementalSaveFile+0x000000000000344e, indicating that the issue occurs within the MuPDF library component that GSView utilizes for PDF rendering and processing. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking when processing certain PDF structures, particularly those related to incremental updates and save operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the principle of control flow hijacking through branch selection manipulation, where attacker-controlled data from the faulting address influences the program's execution path. This represents a variant of the common software security weakness categorized under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific manifestation in this case involves heap memory corruption during incremental PDF processing operations. The underlying mechanism allows attackers to manipulate the program's conditional branch decisions by corrupting memory structures that control program flow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete application crash.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on GSView for PDF document handling, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted PDF content. The denial of service aspect can be exploited to disrupt critical document processing workflows, while the unspecified other impacts suggest potential for more severe consequences including privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the execution environment and system configuration. The vulnerability affects Windows systems specifically, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Windows-based PDF viewers are commonly deployed. Security analysts should note the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as this vulnerability could be exploited through crafted PDF documents delivered via email, web downloads, or removable media.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14946 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected GSView version, with administrators implementing strict PDF file validation policies and sandboxing measures for PDF processing operations. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds regarding malicious PDF content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management and input validation in PDF processing libraries, as well as the necessity for regular security assessments of third-party components used in document processing applications. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles for PDF viewer applications and conducting regular security training for users on identifying potentially malicious document attachments can significantly reduce the attack surface and potential impact of such vulnerabilities.