CVE-2018-17665 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.2.0.9297. 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 currentPage property of a Host object. 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-6519.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2020
CVE-2018-17665 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.2.0.9297, demonstrating a classic object validation flaw that aligns with CWE-476 which addresses NULL pointer dereferences. The vulnerability resides in the improper handling of the currentPage property within a Host object, where the application fails to validate whether the target object exists before attempting operations on it. This fundamental oversight creates an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate the application's execution flow through carefully crafted malicious content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious page or file is loaded within Foxit Reader, requiring user interaction to initiate the attack vector. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the category of client-side exploitation techniques that leverage social engineering or phishing campaigns to deliver malicious content. The flaw specifically manifests during operations on the currentPage property, where the Host object's existence is not properly verified before method calls or property access attempts. This validation failure enables attackers to construct payloads that can manipulate the application's memory state and execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Foxit Reader for document processing, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full control over the affected system. The code execution occurs in the context of the current process, meaning attackers can potentially access sensitive data, install additional malware, or establish persistent access points within the target environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could lead to privilege escalation scenarios depending on the user context in which Foxit Reader operates. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution issue makes it particularly dangerous as it requires no local access and can be exploited through web-based delivery mechanisms.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script execution, T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, and T1203 for exploitation for client execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to potentially malicious web content, disabling unnecessary PDF features, and ensuring timely patch deployment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and object existence checking in software development practices, particularly for applications handling untrusted content. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The issue underscores the necessity of comprehensive security testing including fuzzing and code review processes to identify similar validation flaws in document processing applications that handle complex object models and properties.