CVE-2018-9960 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049. 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 parsing of the textColor Field attribute. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5433.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9960 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049 that demonstrates a classic object-oriented programming error with severe operational consequences. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-476, specifically addressing NULL pointer dereference conditions that occur when applications fail to validate object existence before executing operations on them. The flaw manifests within the PDF document parsing functionality where the application processes the textColor Field attribute without proper validation of object references, creating a pathway for malicious code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to interact with malicious content through either visiting a compromised webpage or opening a crafted PDF file that contains specially constructed textColor field attributes. This interaction model places the vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique category, specifically targeting user execution through malicious files or web content. The root cause stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the PDF rendering engine, where the application assumes the existence of certain objects in memory without performing proper null checks before attempting to access or manipulate these objects. This design flaw allows attackers to craft PDF documents that trigger memory access violations or controlled code execution sequences.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9960 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables full system compromise when users interact with malicious content. The vulnerability executes code under the context of the current process, meaning that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise depending on the privileges of the Foxit Reader application process. This particular weakness affects organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing, as it transforms routine document viewing activities into potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through web-based attack vectors without requiring physical access to target systems.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple defensive layers including immediate patching of affected Foxit Reader installations to version 9.0.1.1050 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the object validation issues. Network-based defenses should include PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms that isolate PDF processing from critical system resources. Additionally, user awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted PDF documents from unknown sources, particularly those received via email or downloaded from unverified websites. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable applications and consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that monitor for suspicious PDF parsing activities. The vulnerability's classification under the ZDI-CAN-5433 identifier confirms its recognition by the Zero Day Initiative security researchers, highlighting its significance in the cybersecurity community and the urgency for remediation across affected enterprise environments.