CVE-2018-5674 in Foxit Reader
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader before 9.1 and PhantomPDF before 9.1. 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 specially crafted pdf files with embedded u3d images. Crafted data in the PDF file can trigger an overflow of a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process, a different vulnerability than CVE-2018-5676 and CVE-2018-5678.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5674 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw affecting Foxit Reader versions prior to 9.1 and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.1. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the processing of specially crafted pdf files containing embedded u3d images. The flaw manifests when the vulnerable software attempts to handle maliciously formatted data within these pdf documents, specifically targeting the memory management routines responsible for processing three-dimensional graphics content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The attack requires user interaction to succeed, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios where victims must be convinced to open maliciously crafted pdf files or visit compromised web pages hosting such content. This makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against as it operates at the intersection of user behavior and software security flaws, requiring both technical and human factors to be addressed in mitigation strategies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF handle u3d (Universal 3D) embedded content within pdf documents. When these applications encounter a pdf file containing malformed u3d data, the parsing routines fail to properly validate the size and structure of the embedded graphics data, leading to a buffer overflow condition in heap memory. The overflow occurs because the application allocates memory buffers based on assumptions about the size of u3d data that are subsequently violated by crafted malicious input. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of the target application. The successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute code with the privileges of the current process, which typically runs with the same permissions as the user who opened the malicious file. The vulnerability operates independently from other related flaws such as CVE-2018-5676 and CVE-2018-5678, indicating that it represents a distinct code path and memory corruption mechanism within the software's pdf processing engine.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5674 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems through targeted pdf-based attacks, particularly effective in phishing campaigns where malicious documents are disguised as legitimate business communications. The vulnerability's requirement for user interaction makes it particularly effective in enterprise environments where employees may inadvertently open malicious documents, leading to potential lateral movement within networks and privilege escalation opportunities. Organizations using older versions of Foxit Reader or PhantomPDF face significant risk exposure, as these applications are commonly used for document viewing and processing in business environments. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread adoption of pdf documents in corporate and government settings, where the likelihood of encountering maliciously crafted pdf files increases substantially. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability as part of broader attack surface management strategies, particularly when assessing risks associated with document processing applications and their potential use in advanced persistent threat campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5674 primarily focus on immediate software updates and operational security measures. The most effective defense involves upgrading to Foxit Reader version 9.1 or later and PhantomPDF version 9.1 or later, which contain patches addressing the heap-based buffer overflow in u3d processing. Organizations should implement strict document handling policies that restrict the opening of pdf files from untrusted sources and establish automated scanning systems to detect potentially malicious content. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help identify and block malicious pdf files before they reach end users. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies for pdf document processing, isolating potentially malicious content in secure environments before analysis. Additional protective measures include disabling u3d content processing in pdf viewers when not required, implementing email filtering rules that flag suspicious pdf attachments, and conducting regular security awareness training to reduce successful social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 and its operational characteristics make it particularly suitable for detection through memory integrity checking mechanisms and runtime application protection systems that monitor for buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify suspicious process behavior patterns associated with successful exploitation attempts.