CVE-2018-14264 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 importAnFDF method. By performing actions in JavaScript, an attacker can trigger a type confusion condition. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-6027.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2020
CVE-2018-14264 represents a critical type confusion vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049 that enables remote code execution through crafted JavaScript within PDF documents. This vulnerability resides within the importAnFDF method of the PDF processing engine, where improper type handling allows attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user process. The flaw specifically manifests when JavaScript code within malicious PDF files triggers the importAnFDF function, causing a type confusion condition that can be exploited to overwrite memory locations and redirect program execution flow. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-476 which defines NULL pointer dereference conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can occur during type confusion scenarios. The attack requires user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage or opening a specially crafted PDF file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation potential stems from the PDF reader's insufficient validation of data types during JavaScript execution, allowing attackers to manipulate object references and corrupt memory structures. This type confusion vulnerability allows attackers to execute code within the context of the Foxit Reader process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through application execution, where the initial access vector through a malicious PDF document can lead to persistent access and further network reconnaissance. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential information disclosure, system instability, and denial of service conditions. Security researchers have noted that this flaw demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices within the PDF processing components, highlighting the importance of robust type checking mechanisms in complex software applications. Organizations using Foxit Reader should implement immediate mitigations including disabling JavaScript execution, updating to patched versions, and deploying network-based protections such as web application firewalls. The vulnerability's exploitation complexity is relatively low, requiring only basic JavaScript crafting skills, which makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking automated exploitation campaigns. Mitigation strategies should include user education about suspicious PDF attachments, network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable systems, and regular security updates to address similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the need for comprehensive code review processes focusing on memory management and type validation in PDF rendering engines, as similar issues have been identified in other PDF viewers and document processing software.