CVE-2018-10494 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049. 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 3DView objects. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5493.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049 that enables remote code execution through crafted U3D 3DView objects within PDF documents. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during the parsing of Universal 3D file format elements, specifically when processing 3DView objects that contain user-supplied data. The flaw manifests as a classic stack-based buffer overflow where maliciously constructed data exceeds the bounds of a predetermined stack buffer, potentially corrupting adjacent memory and allowing arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as a high-risk vulnerability in software security assessments. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited, meaning that a malicious actor must convince a target to open a specially crafted PDF file containing the vulnerable U3D content, making it a client-side attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the parsing phase of U3D 3DView objects where the software fails to validate the length of incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This lack of proper bounds checking creates a predictable overflow condition that can be exploited by an attacker who crafts a malicious PDF file with oversized U3D data structures. The buffer overflow allows an attacker to overwrite return addresses and other critical stack data, potentially enabling code execution with the privileges of the currently running Foxit Reader process. The exploitation process typically involves carefully constructed payload data that, when processed by the vulnerable parser, causes the stack corruption to redirect execution flow to attacker-controlled code. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in document processing software, particularly for applications that handle complex multimedia content formats.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise the entire system where Foxit Reader is installed. Since the exploitation occurs within the context of the current process, successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious code, escalate privileges, or access sensitive system resources depending on the user's permissions. The vulnerability affects a widely used PDF reader application, increasing its potential attack surface and making it a target for various threat actors including those following ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing malicious payloads. Organizations using Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049 are particularly at risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks where users browse to malicious websites hosting compromised PDF files, or through social engineering campaigns that deliver malicious documents via email or other communication channels. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of Foxit Reader to version 9.0.1.1050 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow issue. Organizations should implement strict content filtering policies that prevent users from opening untrusted PDF files, particularly those containing embedded 3D content or other complex multimedia elements. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content inspection systems can help detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end users. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening PDF files from untrusted sources and should be trained to recognize potential social engineering attempts that might deliver malicious documents. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that combine multiple layers of protection including application whitelisting, sandboxing of document processing applications, and regular security assessments of commonly used software packages. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network traffic patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.