CVE-2017-2814 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap overflow vulnerability exists in the image rendering functionality of Poppler 0.53.0. A specifically crafted pdf can cause an image resizing after allocation has already occurred, resulting in heap corruption which can lead to code execution. An attacker controlled PDF file can be used to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The heap overflow vulnerability documented in CVE-2017-2814 represents a critical security flaw within the Poppler PDF rendering library version 0.53.0 and potentially earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the image rendering subsystem where the library processes pdf documents containing embedded images. The flaw manifests when the library encounters a specially crafted pdf file that triggers an improper memory management sequence during image processing operations. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121 which specifically addresses violations in heap memory allocation and deallocation patterns. The underlying issue stems from insufficient bounds checking during image resizing operations where memory is reallocated without proper validation of the resize parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious pdf document contains image data that triggers a sequence where memory allocation occurs followed by an image resizing operation that overflows allocated heap space. This particular flaw demonstrates a classic case of improper memory handling where the library fails to validate the dimensions or parameters of image resizing operations before executing the resize logic. The heap corruption that results from this flaw can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal pdf document rendering operations without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious document. This makes it an ideal candidate for remote code execution attacks in environments where pdf documents are automatically processed or rendered.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2814 extends beyond simple code execution as it represents a significant threat to systems that process untrusted pdf content. Applications utilizing Poppler for pdf rendering including web browsers, document viewers, and document processing systems become vulnerable to this attack vector. The vulnerability affects systems across multiple operating environments where Poppler is integrated, including desktop applications, server-side document processing systems, and mobile applications. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through the PDF rendering process. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction and can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or any other means of pdf document distribution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to Poppler versions that contain the patched memory management routines, specifically versions 0.54.0 and later where the heap overflow has been resolved. Organizations should implement strict pdf document validation and sanitization processes that can detect and prevent malformed pdf content from reaching the rendering engine. Additionally, deploying memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization ASLR and stack canaries can significantly reduce the exploitability of this vulnerability. Network-based mitigations including pdf content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and bounds checking in memory management operations, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and NIST SP 800-53 security controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other components of the document processing pipeline.