CVE-2018-14284 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 the newDoc function. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5773.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2020
CVE-2018-14284 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049 that demonstrates a classic null pointer dereference flaw in the document processing pipeline. This vulnerability resides within the newDoc function implementation where the software fails to validate object existence before performing operations on it, creating a dangerous condition that allows attackers to manipulate the application's memory state. The flaw specifically manifests when processing maliciously crafted PDF documents that trigger the vulnerable code path, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently running process. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-476 which identifies NULL Pointer Dereference as a fundamental programming error that can be exploited to crash applications or execute malicious code. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited, meaning that targets must either visit a malicious web page containing the exploit or open a specially crafted malicious file, making it a typical example of a client-side attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning as Foxit Reader is widely used for document viewing across enterprise environments, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations that rely on this software for document processing. The vulnerability's exploitation process involves crafting a malicious PDF document that when processed by the vulnerable Foxit Reader version, triggers the improper object validation within the newDoc function, leading to memory corruption that attackers can manipulate to inject and execute their own code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level within the PDF processing engine, bypassing many traditional network-based security controls that focus on network traffic inspection rather than application-specific vulnerabilities. The impact extends beyond simple code execution as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious payloads within the target environment, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors who seek to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. Organizations using Foxit Reader should immediately implement mitigations including software updates to patched versions, network-based intrusion detection system rules to block malicious PDF content, and user education to avoid opening suspicious documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and object-oriented programming practices where developers should always validate object references before dereferencing them, a principle that directly relates to the software security engineering practices recommended by ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as high-risk due to its remote exploitability and the relatively low barrier to successful exploitation, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams responsible for protecting against targeted attacks that leverage application-specific vulnerabilities.