CVE-2019-17138 in Studio Photo
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of Foxit Studio Photo 3.6.6.909. 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 conversion from JPEG to EPS. 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 structure. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-8809.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2024
CVE-2019-17138 represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability affecting Foxit Studio Photo version 3.6.6.909 that stems from improper input validation during JPEG to EPS file conversion processes. This vulnerability resides within the software's handling of user-supplied data and manifests as a buffer overread condition that occurs when processing maliciously crafted image files. The flaw specifically emerges during the conversion routine where the application fails to adequately validate the boundaries of user-provided JPEG data before attempting to parse it into EPS format, creating a scenario where memory access occurs beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage or opening a specially crafted file, making it a client-side attack vector that aligns with attack techniques categorized under the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases. This requires social engineering elements to deliver the malicious payload to target systems, typically through phishing campaigns or compromised websites that host the malicious files. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overread or out-of-bounds read vulnerability corresponds to CWE-125, which describes conditions where code reads data past the end of a buffer, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to extract sensitive information from the application's memory space, potentially including credentials, configuration data, or other confidential information that may be stored in memory adjacent to the buffer being processed. The read past the end of an allocated structure can reveal portions of memory that contain valuable data, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for applications handling sensitive content. The vulnerability's potential for code execution in conjunction with other weaknesses makes it a significant concern for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, particularly when handling file format conversions that require parsing complex data structures. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address this vulnerability and ensure that all instances of Foxit Studio Photo are updated to versions that contain proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Security professionals should also consider monitoring for suspicious file access patterns and implement network-based detection measures that can identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability through malicious file delivery mechanisms. The vulnerability's characteristics align with common software security weaknesses that are frequently exploited in targeted attacks, making it essential for organizations to maintain updated threat intelligence and security awareness programs to prevent successful exploitation attempts.