CVE-2018-7407 in Foxit Reader
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader before 9.1 and PhantomPDF before 9.1. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. 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 when rendering U3D images inside of pdf files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a type confusion condition. An attacker can leverage this to execute code in the context of the current process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7407 represents a critical security flaw affecting Foxit Reader versions prior to 9.1 and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.1. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit it without requiring local system access. The flaw specifically manifests when processing Universal 3D (U3D) images embedded within PDF documents, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise systems through web-based attacks or by enticing users to open compromised files. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be successfully exploited, meaning that simply visiting a malicious website or opening a tainted PDF file would be sufficient to trigger the attack vector.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the PDF rendering engine's handling of U3D image data. When the software processes these three-dimensional graphics embedded in PDF files, it fails to properly validate the structure and content of the user-supplied data, leading to a type confusion condition. This type confusion vulnerability, classified under CWE-843, occurs when the software incorrectly handles data types during runtime operations, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execution flow. The improper validation creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious U3D data that can cause the application to interpret memory locations as different data types than intended, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system's execution context. When successfully exploited, the malicious code executes with the privileges of the current process, typically running with the same user permissions as the PDF reader application. This means that if a user with administrative privileges opens a compromised PDF file, the attacker could gain elevated system access. The vulnerability's remote exploitability through web pages makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently browse the internet and open PDF documents from various sources. Organizations using older versions of Foxit Reader or PhantomPDF face significant risk of targeted attacks, especially in phishing campaigns that leverage this specific vulnerability to deliver malware payloads.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Foxit Reader 9.1 or later versions and PhantomPDF 9.1 or later, which contain proper input validation mechanisms that prevent the type confusion condition. Additionally, organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious U3D content. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through malicious files and privilege escalation through code execution, making it a significant concern for defensive security operations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly when handling complex multimedia content within document processing applications.