CVE-2018-14296 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096. 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 processing of Circle annotations. By manipulating a document's elements, an attacker can cause a pointer to be reused after it has been freed. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-6212.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2020
This vulnerability in Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition that enables remote code execution through improper memory management during annotation processing. The flaw specifically manifests within the Circle annotation handling component where a use-after-free vulnerability occurs when processing maliciously crafted PDF documents. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices that allow an attacker to manipulate document elements in a way that causes a pointer to be accessed after its associated memory has been freed, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to interact with malicious content, either by visiting a compromised webpage hosting a malicious PDF file or by opening a specially crafted document directly. This user interaction requirement aligns with attack patterns described in the attack tree methodology and follows the principles of social engineering in cybersecurity. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-416 as Use After Free, which is a well-documented weakness in software applications that handle untrusted data processing. The attack vector operates through the PDF document parsing engine where the Circle annotation processing routine fails to properly validate memory references, leading to the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities that are commonly targeted in advanced persistent threat campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise, as the attacker can execute code under the context of the current process running Foxit Reader. This means that if a user with administrative privileges opens a malicious document, the attacker could gain elevated system access. The vulnerability affects a widely used PDF reader application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including web browsing, email attachments, and document sharing platforms. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a PDF document with malicious Circle annotations that trigger the memory corruption when the reader attempts to render or process these elements, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute shellcode or other malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patch deployment from Foxit Corporation as the primary defense mechanism, along with network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious PDF file patterns. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies, particularly for PDF files received from external sources, and consider sandboxing PDF rendering environments to contain potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments of third-party software components, as demonstrated by the ZDI-CAN-6212 reference which indicates this issue was identified through coordinated vulnerability disclosure processes. Network administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through anomalous network traffic patterns associated with PDF document access and implement endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent the execution of malicious code in PDF processing contexts.