CVE-2018-14302 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 Square 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-6218.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2020
This vulnerability in Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution through crafted malicious documents. The vulnerability specifically affects the processing of Square annotations within the PDF rendering engine, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard PDF document interactions. The flaw stems from improper memory management during annotation processing, where a pointer is dereferenced after being freed, creating a classic use-after-free condition that has been classified under CWE-416. This type of vulnerability falls squarely within the ATT&CK framework under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it leverages client-side application vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Foxit Reader processes a malicious PDF document containing specially crafted Square annotations. During normal operation, the application allocates memory for annotation objects and manages their lifecycle through reference counting or similar mechanisms. However, the flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or handle the destruction of annotation objects, allowing an attacker to manipulate document elements in such a way that a freed memory pointer is accessed again. This memory corruption scenario creates an opportunity for attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or inject malicious code into the running process. The vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically visiting a malicious webpage or opening a malicious file, which makes it particularly insidious as it can be delivered through social engineering campaigns or compromised websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows attackers to operate with the privileges and context of the currently running Foxit Reader process. This means that if a user with administrative privileges opens a malicious document, the attacker could potentially gain elevated system access. The vulnerability affects the core PDF processing functionality of Foxit Reader, making it a high-value target for threat actors who seek to compromise end-user systems through document-based attacks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware components, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Foxit Reader, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious PDF content, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious documents and websites. System hardening measures including application whitelisting and privilege separation can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in PDF rendering engines and highlights the need for continuous security assessments of document processing components. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the use-after-free condition creates detectable patterns in memory access patterns and process behavior that can be used for threat hunting activities.