CVE-2018-10488 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code 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 Texture Width structures. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length, heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5420.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
CVE-2018-10488 represents a critical buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.0.29935 that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted U3D (Universal 3D) content. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-121, which encompasses classic stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing of U3D Texture Width structures, where the application fails to validate the length of user-supplied data before copying it into a fixed-length heap-based buffer. This improper input validation creates an exploitable condition that allows attackers to craft malicious U3D files or web pages containing malformed texture width parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise under the context of the current process, typically running with the privileges of the victim user. Attackers can leverage this weakness by hosting malicious content on compromised web servers or by delivering malicious files through social engineering campaigns that trick users into opening infected documents. The requirement for user interaction through visiting malicious pages or opening malicious files aligns with the ATT&CK framework's initial access tactics, specifically T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway involves manipulating the U3D parsing logic to cause a buffer overflow that can be controlled to overwrite return addresses and execute arbitrary shellcode, effectively bypassing standard security mechanisms.
From a mitigation perspective, organizations should immediately deploy patches provided by Foxit Corporation addressing this specific buffer overflow condition in their U3D parsing components. The vulnerability's heap-based nature makes it particularly challenging to detect through traditional stack-based exploit prevention mechanisms, requiring more comprehensive memory protection strategies including address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. Security teams should implement network-based detection measures to identify suspicious U3D content in web traffic and file transfers, while also monitoring for exploitation attempts through endpoint detection and response systems. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121 emphasizes the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in document processing applications, particularly those handling complex 3D graphics formats that require extensive parsing of user-supplied binary data structures.