CVE-2018-19345 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 U3DBrowser!PlugInMain+0x0000000000053f8b" issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19345 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the u3d plugin component of Foxit Reader version 9.3.0.10826. This issue manifests specifically within the plugins\U3DBrowser.fpi module that is loaded by FoxitReader.exe, creating a remote attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt the application's normal operation. The vulnerability occurs during processing of U3D sample files, which are three-dimensional graphics formats commonly used in technical documentation and engineering applications. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory access handling within the plugin's execution context, particularly around the PlugInMain function where a read access violation near NULL occurs at the memory address 0x0000000000053f8b.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer over-read condition that can result in two distinct security impacts depending on the attacker's intent and capabilities. When exploited for denial of service, the out-of-bounds read causes Foxit Reader to crash or become unresponsive when processing maliciously crafted U3D files, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing PDF documents containing such embedded content. The more concerning aspect involves information disclosure, where the improper memory access pattern can potentially expose sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, including potentially confidential information from the application's memory space or operating system resources. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information exposure and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential data leakage and system compromise scenarios. Attackers can craft malicious U3D files that, when opened by a victim using Foxit Reader, trigger the vulnerable code path and either crash the application or extract information from memory. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where Foxit Reader is widely deployed, as users may inadvertently encounter such malicious content through email attachments, web downloads, or shared documents. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the plugin level, meaning that exploitation does not require direct access to the application's core functionality but rather targets the specialized content handling modules. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution of malicious code through application-specific vulnerabilities, with the potential for lateral movement within compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19345 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Foxit Reader version to the latest available security updates from the vendor. Organizations should implement strict content filtering policies that prevent automatic loading of U3D content or other potentially vulnerable embedded formats within PDF documents. Network-based security controls such as web proxies and email filters can be configured to block or quarantine U3D files before they reach end-user systems. Additionally, security teams should consider disabling the u3d plugin entirely through configuration management if the functionality is not required for business operations. System administrators should monitor for unusual application crashes or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implement proper incident response procedures for handling potential information disclosure events. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in plugin architectures, as highlighted by industry standards that emphasize defensive programming techniques to prevent such out-of-bounds memory access conditions.