CVE-2017-16577 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code 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 alignment attribute of Field objects. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5094.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2019
CVE-2017-16577 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 8.3.1.21155, classified under CWE-476 as NULL Pointer Dereference. This vulnerability resides within the handling of Field objects in the PDF processing engine, specifically when parsing the alignment attribute of these objects. The flaw occurs due to insufficient input validation where the software fails to verify whether an object exists before attempting operations on it. This null pointer dereference condition creates a predictable exploitation vector that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current process. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited, meaning victims must either visit a malicious webpage or open a crafted malicious PDF file containing the vulnerable Field object structure. The attack chain begins when the vulnerable software parses a malicious PDF document, encounters the malformed Field object with improper alignment attribute handling, and subsequently attempts to access a null pointer during object processing. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems. The impact extends beyond simple code execution as the attacker gains the same privileges as the Foxit Reader process, potentially enabling further system compromise or privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation demonstrates a classic memory corruption issue that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF readers are frequently used. The flaw's presence in a widely deployed PDF reader application increases its potential impact significantly. Organizations utilizing Foxit Reader version 8.3.1.21155 should immediately implement mitigations including disabling PDF preview features, implementing strict content filtering for PDF documents, and applying the vendor-provided security patches. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar vulnerabilities in other PDF processing components. This particular issue highlights the critical need for robust input validation and proper object lifecycle management in document processing applications, particularly those handling untrusted content from external sources. The vulnerability's exploitation demonstrates how seemingly minor parsing flaws in PDF processing engines can result in complete system compromise, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive security testing for document readers and office applications.