CVE-2018-9984 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information 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 parsing of Texture Image Channels objects in U3D 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 object. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-5495.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9984 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Foxit Reader version 9.0.0.29935 that enables remote attackers to access sensitive system data through crafted U3D (Universal 3D) files. This vulnerability operates under the purview of CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and falls within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The flaw specifically manifests in the parsing mechanism of Texture Image Channels objects within U3D file formats, where the software fails to adequately validate user-supplied data inputs before processing them. This inadequate validation creates a scenario where memory access occurs beyond the boundaries of allocated objects, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning that targets must either visit a malicious webpage hosting compromised U3D content or open a malicious file containing the vulnerable parsing logic. This requirement places the vulnerability in the category of client-side attacks that rely on social engineering or phishing techniques to achieve initial compromise. The technical nature of the flaw stems from improper bounds checking during the processing of 3D texture data structures, where the application does not sufficiently verify the integrity and size of incoming data before attempting to read from memory regions. When a U3D file containing malicious Texture Image Channels objects is processed, the parser attempts to access memory locations that extend beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially revealing contents of adjacent memory segments including sensitive data such as passwords, session tokens, or other confidential information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a foundational weakness for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage this read past the end of an allocated object condition to potentially gather enough information to facilitate further exploitation attempts, including code execution within the context of the current process. The vulnerability's classification under ZDI-CAN-5495 indicates its recognition by the Zero Day Initiative, emphasizing its significance in the cybersecurity landscape. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Foxit Reader is commonly used for document viewing, as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive corporate data or credentials from the application's memory space. The combination of information disclosure with other potential vulnerabilities creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code, making this a particularly concerning flaw in security-conscious environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9984 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as Foxit Corporation would have released patches addressing the specific bounds checking issues in their U3D parsing implementation. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious U3D files or suspicious web content. User education and awareness programs should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted files or visiting suspicious websites, particularly those that might contain embedded 3D content. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing sandboxing techniques for document processing applications and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in software development practices, particularly for applications that process complex file formats with multiple data structures that require careful memory management. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other document processing applications and ensure comprehensive protection against similar out-of-bounds read conditions.