CVE-2019-5045 in NitroPDF
Summary
by MITRE
A specifically crafted jpeg2000 file embedded in a PDF file can lead to a heap corruption when opening a PDF document in NitroPDF 12.12.1.522. With careful memory manipulation, this can lead to arbitrary code execution. In order to trigger this vulnerability, the victim would need to open the malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical heap corruption flaw in NitroPDF version 12.12.1.522 that demonstrates the inherent risks associated with image processing within PDF viewers. The vulnerability specifically targets the JPEG2000 decoding functionality when embedded within PDF documents, creating a pathway for remote code execution through carefully crafted malicious files. The flaw exists in how the application handles memory allocation and processing of malformed JPEG2000 image data during PDF document rendering, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard document opening operations without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the file itself. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how multimedia processing components can introduce security risks into document viewers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires precise manipulation of memory structures within the NitroPDF application's memory space, where the JPEG2000 decoder fails to properly validate input data before processing. When a maliciously crafted JPEG2000 file is embedded within a PDF document and opened, the application's memory management routines become corrupted, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical memory locations or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory corruption and code execution, with the heap corruption serving as the primary attack vector that enables further exploitation. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple document viewing, as it fundamentally compromises the security boundary of the application and potentially the entire system where the application is running. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access to target systems through the PDF viewer application. The attack requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly effective for social engineering campaigns where users might unknowingly open malicious documents. This vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious documents and privilege escalation through code execution within the application context. Organizations using NitroPDF 12.12.1.522 should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat requiring immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of NitroPDF to version 12.12.1.523 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate JPEG2000 image data during processing. Network administrators should implement document filtering policies that restrict the opening of PDF files from untrusted sources, particularly those containing embedded JPEG2000 images. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of unauthorized PDF viewers and implement sandboxing techniques for PDF document processing. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management in multimedia processing components, emphasizing that security controls must be comprehensive and address both the application's core functionality and its external interfaces. Regular security assessments of document processing applications should include thorough testing of image format handling capabilities to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into production environments.