CVE-2019-12293 in Poppler
Summary
by MITRE
In Poppler through 0.76.1, there is a heap-based buffer over-read in JPXStream::init in JPEG2000Stream.cc via data with inconsistent heights or widths.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-12293 represents a critical heap-based buffer over-read flaw in the Poppler PDF rendering library version 0.76.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the JPXStream::init function within the JPEG2000Stream.cc source file, which processes JPEG2000 compressed image data embedded in PDF documents. The flaw occurs when the library encounters JPEG2000 data structures containing inconsistent height and width parameters, creating a scenario where the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the JPEG2000 stream parsing logic. When processing malformed or specially crafted JPEG2000 data, the JPXStream::init function fails to properly validate the dimensional parameters of the image data structure before attempting to access memory regions. This oversight allows an attacker to craft malicious PDF documents containing crafted JPEG2000 streams with inconsistent dimensional values that cause the application to read beyond the intended buffer limits, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or in some cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the memory layout and surrounding data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability affects any system running Poppler versions up to 0.76.1 that processes untrusted PDF documents, including web browsers, document viewers, and server-side PDF processing applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because JPEG2000 compression is commonly used in professional PDF documents, making this attack vector highly relevant in real-world scenarios. The over-read behavior could potentially expose sensitive memory contents to attackers, including cryptographic keys, user data, or application state information, depending on the specific memory layout during execution.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," when used in phishing campaigns or document-based attacks. Organizations using Poppler for PDF processing should prioritize updating to version 0.77.0 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and buffer boundary checks. Additional mitigations include implementing strict content validation for PDF documents, using sandboxed environments for PDF processing, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF content patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves adding proper dimensional parameter validation before buffer access operations and implementing robust error handling for malformed JPEG2000 streams.