CVE-2018-9940 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935. 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 layout sheet attribute. 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 vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5374.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2024
CVE-2018-9940 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.0.29935 and potentially other versions within the same release line. This vulnerability resides in the PDF processing engine's handling of layout sheet attributes, specifically manifesting as a type confusion flaw that allows attackers to manipulate memory operations through malformed input data. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited, meaning victims must either visit a malicious webpage or open a specially crafted PDF file containing the malicious payload. The root cause of this issue stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied data during the parsing of PDF documents, particularly when processing layout sheet attributes that define document structure and formatting elements. This type confusion condition occurs when the application incorrectly handles data type assumptions during memory operations, leading to potential memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently running process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereferences and related memory corruption issues, while also demonstrating characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can potentially allow attackers to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The attack surface is significant given that Foxit Reader is widely deployed across enterprise environments and individual users, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous when considering the typical user behavior of opening PDF files from untrusted sources. Organizations using affected versions of Foxit Reader should consider immediate remediation through official patches provided by the vendor, while network administrators may need to implement additional controls such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing measures to protect against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in document processing applications, as similar issues have been identified in other PDF readers and office applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of document parsing components.