CVE-2018-17629 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.1.0.5096. 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 handling of template objects. 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 in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-6614.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2020
CVE-2018-17629 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.1.0.5096, classified under CWE-476 as "NULL Pointer Dereference" within the context of template object handling. This vulnerability resides in the document processing engine where the application fails to validate whether template objects exist before attempting operations on them. The flaw occurs during the parsing of PDF documents, specifically when processing template-based content that may contain maliciously crafted objects designed to trigger the unsafe memory access pattern.
The exploitation mechanism requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage hosting a crafted PDF or opening a specially crafted file that contains the vulnerable template objects. This places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems. The vulnerability operates by constructing a template object that appears valid to the parser but lacks proper initialization, leading to a NULL pointer dereference when the application attempts to perform operations on the uninitialized object.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows attackers to operate within the security context of the Foxit Reader process, potentially enabling privilege escalation or lateral movement within the compromised environment. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. This type of vulnerability is classified as a zero-day threat when first discovered, as it can be leveraged for advanced persistent threat campaigns or mass exploitation attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of Foxit Reader, implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls to filter malicious PDF content, and deploying user education programs to reduce the likelihood of visiting malicious sites or opening suspicious files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and object initialization in document processing applications, as highlighted by the CWE taxonomy that emphasizes the need for defensive programming practices to prevent such memory safety issues. Security teams should also consider monitoring for suspicious PDF file access patterns and implementing sandboxing techniques for PDF processing to contain potential exploitation attempts.