CVE-2018-10480 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 handling of the U3D Node Name buffer. 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 buffer. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5401.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10480 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw in Foxit Reader version 9.0.0.29935 that exposes sensitive system information to remote attackers. This security weakness specifically manifests within the U3D Node Name buffer handling mechanism, where the application fails to properly validate user-supplied data during the processing of 3D content within PDF documents. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious PDF files that trigger memory access violations when the vulnerable software attempts to parse improperly formatted U3D (Universal 3D) node names. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that occur when programs access memory locations beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers. The attack vector requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage that hosts a crafted PDF file or opening a specially constructed PDF document directly, making this a typical client-side exploitation scenario.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to severe security consequences in document processing applications. When Foxit Reader encounters a malformed U3D node name within a PDF file, the application's parsing routine fails to enforce bounds checking on the buffer allocated for storing node name data. This allows an attacker to manipulate the input data in such a way that subsequent memory reads extend beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory locations. The disclosed information could include stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments that might contain authentication tokens, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through document processing, and T1068 for local privilege escalation opportunities that could arise from information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10480 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities present in the same software ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability as part of a multi-stage exploitation approach, where the initial information disclosure provides them with insights into memory layout or process state that can be used to refine subsequent attack vectors. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can deploy malicious PDF files through various channels including email attachments, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns without requiring physical access to target systems. Organizations running Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 are particularly at risk since the vulnerability affects a widely used PDF reader application that processes numerous document types across different operating systems. The fact that this vulnerability was tracked as ZDI-CAN-5401 indicates it was recognized by the Zero Day Initiative security research community and highlights its significance in the broader cybersecurity landscape.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10480 should prioritize immediate software updates from Foxit Corporation, as the vendor likely released patches addressing the buffer over-read condition in subsequent versions of their PDF reader. Organizations should implement strict document filtering policies that prevent users from opening PDF files from untrusted sources, particularly those originating from external websites or email attachments. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious PDF content before it reaches end-user systems. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious email attachments and visiting untrusted websites that might host malicious PDF files. System administrators should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for PDF processing and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and proper buffer management in document processing applications, particularly those handling complex binary formats like PDFs that contain embedded 3D content structures.