CVE-2018-10481 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 U3D Texture Resource 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 data structure. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5408.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10481 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Foxit Reader version 9.0.0.29935 that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This vulnerability operates through the manipulation of Universal 3D U3D Texture Resource structures, which are commonly used in 3D graphics rendering within PDF documents. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data during the processing of these specific resource structures, creating a dangerous condition where memory access extends beyond allocated boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to interact with malicious content through either visiting a compromised webpage or opening a specially crafted PDF file containing the vulnerable U3D texture resources. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the category of client-side attacks that rely on social engineering tactics to achieve successful exploitation. The underlying flaw manifests as a buffer over-read condition that occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended data structure boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing Foxit Reader as their primary PDF viewing solution. The read past the end of allocated data structure condition can potentially expose confidential memory contents including encryption keys, session tokens, or other sensitive application data that resides in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution vector through combination with other exploits demonstrates its potential to serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions that occur when a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer. This weakness is particularly concerning in document processing applications like Foxit Reader where complex file format parsing creates numerous potential attack vectors. Additionally, the vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', as the exploitation often involves JavaScript execution within PDF contexts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Foxit Reader, implementing network-based restrictions on PDF file handling, and conducting user awareness training to prevent accidental exploitation through malicious file attachments or web navigation.
The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to include potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers might leverage the memory exposure to gain deeper system access. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used PDF reader application means that the attack surface is extensive, potentially affecting numerous organizations across different sectors including government agencies, financial institutions, and healthcare providers that rely on PDF document processing for critical operations. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing solutions and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in their document processing workflows.