CVE-2018-19341 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
The u3d plugin 9.3.0.10809 (aka plugins\U3DBrowser.fpi) in FoxitReader.exe in Foxit Reader 9.3.0.10826 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) or obtain sensitive information via a U3D sample because of a "Read Access Violation near NULL starting at FoxitReader!std::basic_ostream >::operator<<+0x0000000000087906" issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19341 affects Foxit Reader version 9.3.0.10826 and specifically targets the u3d plugin component with version 9.3.0.10809. This issue manifests within the plugins\U3DBrowser.fpi module and represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited remotely by attackers. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of U3D (Universal 3D) file samples during the parsing process, creating conditions where maliciously crafted U3D content can trigger unexpected behavior in the application. The affected component is part of the FoxitReader.exe executable, making it a core element of the document processing pipeline that handles three-dimensional graphics content.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability involves an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when processing U3D files through the affected plugin. When the u3d plugin encounters a malformed or specially crafted U3D sample, it attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in what is known as a "Read Access Violation near NULL" error. This memory access violation specifically occurs at the FoxitReader!std::basic_ostream >::operator<<+0x0000000000087906 address, indicating that the error originates from stream output operations within the standard C++ library components. The vulnerability is classified as a memory safety issue that can be exploited to either crash the application or potentially extract sensitive information from memory regions that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a potential information disclosure threat that could enable attackers to extract confidential data from the application's memory space. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious U3D files that, when opened or previewed within Foxit Reader, trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. The consequences include system instability through application crashes, which can be used for denial of service attacks against targeted users, and in some cases, the extraction of sensitive data that may include memory contents, application state information, or other confidential elements. This vulnerability affects users who frequently encounter or process 3D content within PDF documents, particularly in environments where document security is paramount.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Foxit Reader application to version 9.3.0.10827 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the memory access violation issue. Organizations should also implement content filtering measures that prevent the automatic processing of U3D files within their document workflows, particularly when these files originate from untrusted sources. Network administrators should consider implementing sandboxing techniques that isolate document processing activities to prevent potential information disclosure from affecting the broader system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to memory safety issues. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of initial access or privilege escalation tactics, particularly in targeted attacks where adversaries seek to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems.