CVE-2018-10475 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935. 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 U3D Light Node structures. 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 structure. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5394.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10475 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.0.29935 and potentially other versions within the same product line. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that requires user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios where social engineering tactics could be employed to lure victims into visiting malicious websites or opening compromised documents. The flaw specifically targets the U3D Light Node structure parsing functionality within the PDF reader, which is designed to handle three-dimensional graphics and animations within PDF documents. This parsing mechanism forms part of the broader multimedia capabilities that Foxit Reader implements to provide enhanced document viewing experiences.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation during the processing of U3D Light Node structures, which constitutes a classic buffer overread condition classified under CWE-125. When the reader encounters malformed U3D data within a PDF document, the parsing routine fails to properly validate the boundaries of user-supplied data structures, leading to memory access violations that can result in sensitive information disclosure. The vulnerability manifests as a read past the end of an allocated memory structure, where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended data boundaries. This type of flaw can expose sensitive data from adjacent memory regions including stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments that may contain authentication tokens, encryption keys, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's classification aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for application execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation through memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a potential pathway for more severe exploits when combined with other vulnerabilities present in the system. Attackers can leverage this memory corruption issue as a stepping stone for code execution attacks, particularly when paired with other vulnerabilities that allow for arbitrary code execution within the reader's process context. The fact that exploitation requires user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against, as it cannot be triggered automatically through network-based attacks alone. The vulnerability's disclosure can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive documents, compromise of user credentials, and potential lateral movement within targeted networks where Foxit Reader is deployed. Organizations using Foxit Reader in enterprise environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited through phishing campaigns, malicious document attachments, or compromised websites that deliver crafted PDF content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10475 should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Foxit Corporation, while implementing additional defensive measures such as restricting user access to potentially malicious content through web filtering solutions and email security controls. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious PDF file patterns and U3D content structures that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized PDF readers and enforce the use of patched versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation in document processing applications, highlighting how seemingly minor parsing flaws can create significant security risks. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of Foxit Reader installations within their environments and ensure timely patch deployment. Regular security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that rely on user interaction to deliver malicious payloads.