CVE-2017-5364 in PDF Toolkit
Summary
by MITRE
Memory Corruption Vulnerability in Foxit PDF Toolkit v1.3 allows an attacker to cause Denial of Service and Remote Code Execution when the victim opens the specially crafted PDF file. The Vulnerability has been fixed in v2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5364 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Foxit PDF Toolkit version 1.3 that exposes users to significant security risks. This issue manifests when a victim opens a maliciously crafted PDF file, creating a scenario where attackers can exploit the toolkit's processing mechanisms to either cause system denial of service or achieve remote code execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the PDF parsing components of the toolkit, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages the common practice of PDF document interaction that users perform daily. The flaw exists in the way the toolkit handles specific PDF structures and data sequences, leading to unpredictable memory states that can be manipulated by adversaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on heap memory allocations. Attackers can craft PDF files containing malformed data structures that trigger memory corruption during parsing operations, potentially leading to stack smashing or heap corruption that allows arbitrary code execution. The toolkit's failure to properly validate PDF object structures and their associated memory allocations creates an attack surface where crafted inputs can overwrite critical memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because PDF files are widely used across different platforms and applications, making the attack vector extremely broad and impactful.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5364 extends beyond simple system availability concerns to encompass full system compromise capabilities. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the Foxit PDF Toolkit, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect can be particularly disruptive in enterprise environments where PDF processing is a common requirement, while the remote code execution capability allows for persistent access and data exfiltration. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to elevated system privileges and continued access.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Foxit PDF Toolkit version 2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory corruption issues. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider restricting PDF file execution in high-security environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in document processing software. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all PDF processing tools within their environments, as similar memory corruption patterns may exist in other PDF libraries and applications. The fix implemented in version 2.0 likely includes enhanced bounds checking, improved memory management routines, and stricter validation of PDF file structures to prevent the conditions that previously enabled exploitation of this vulnerability.