CVE-2018-9973 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information 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 ePub files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a read past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5758.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9973 represents a critical security flaw in Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049 that exposes sensitive information through improper buffer handling during ePub file processing. This issue falls under the category of buffer over-read conditions that can lead to information disclosure and potentially arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the parsing mechanism of ePub documents, which are widely used digital publishing formats that allow for rich multimedia content and interactive features. The flaw exists within the software's handling of user-supplied data during the parsing phase, where insufficient validation leads to memory access violations that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ePub parser component of Foxit Reader. When processing maliciously crafted ePub files, the application fails to properly bounds-check memory allocations, resulting in a read past the end of allocated buffer scenarios. This condition allows attackers to access memory locations beyond the intended data boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information such as stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" which specifically addresses situations where programs read data past the end of allocated buffers. The flaw represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can be leveraged for information disclosure attacks and may serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9973 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable remote code execution when combined with other vulnerabilities present in the system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious ePub files that trigger the vulnerable parsing code when opened or viewed within Foxit Reader. The requirement for user interaction through visiting malicious web pages or opening compromised files aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" which describes how adversaries can leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently access untrusted web content or receive email attachments containing potentially malicious documents. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be particularly effective in targeted attacks against organizations that rely heavily on document processing software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9973 should prioritize immediate software updates from Foxit Corporation, as the vendor has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Foxit Reader are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Additional protective measures include implementing strict content filtering mechanisms that prevent the automatic execution of potentially malicious documents, deploying sandboxing solutions for document processing, and establishing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening untrusted files. Network-based defenses should include web application firewalls that can detect and block attempts to serve malicious ePub content, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, as the vulnerability can execute code in the context of the current process, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper system access.