CVE-2018-14282 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 handling of FlateDecode streams. The issue results from the lack of proper initialization of a pointer prior to accessing it. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5763.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2020
CVE-2018-14282 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049 that demonstrates a classic memory safety issue rooted in improper pointer initialization. This vulnerability resides within the FlateDecode stream processing functionality of the PDF reader, which is commonly used for decompressing embedded content within PDF documents. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly initialize a pointer variable before attempting to access memory locations, creating a condition where uninitialized memory contents are dereferenced, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious web page that hosts a crafted PDF file or opening a specifically designed malicious document. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the category of client-side attacks that rely on social engineering or phishing techniques to deliver the payload. The attack vector operates through the PDF parsing engine's handling of compressed streams, where the FlateDecode algorithm processes compressed data that has been embedded within the PDF document structure. When the application processes this malformed compressed data, the uninitialized pointer causes unpredictable behavior that can be controlled by an attacker to redirect execution flow.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2018-14282 allows attackers to execute code with the privileges of the currently running Foxit Reader process, typically operating with the same user permissions as the legitimate application. This presents a significant security risk as the compromised application could potentially access sensitive documents, modify system files, or establish persistence mechanisms within the victim's environment. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can leverage this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users. The attack can be delivered through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites that serve malicious PDF content.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating Foxit Reader to versions that address this vulnerability, as well as deploying network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious PDF content. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about suspicious PDF files and the importance of verifying document sources before opening them. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that traditional endpoint protection measures may not be sufficient, requiring additional network monitoring and anomaly detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices and the critical need for thorough input validation in applications that process untrusted data, particularly in document processing software that must handle complex binary formats like PDFs.