CVE-2020-10901 in PhantomPDF
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.7.1.29511. 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 handling of U3D objects in PDF 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-10461.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
CVE-2020-10901 represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability affecting Foxit PhantomPDF version 9.7.1.29511 that demonstrates a classic buffer overread condition within the Universal 3D object processing functionality. This vulnerability resides in the PDF parsing engine's handling of U3D (Universal 3D) objects, which are used to embed 3D graphics within PDF documents. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly bounds-check user-supplied data during the parsing of U3D content, creating a scenario where the application reads memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" which is classified as a memory safety error that can lead to information disclosure and potentially more severe exploitation vectors.
The attack scenario requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage that loads a specially crafted PDF or opening a malicious PDF file directly, making this a client-side vulnerability that leverages social engineering techniques. When a victim's system processes a crafted PDF containing malformed U3D objects, the parser attempts to read beyond the intended memory boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions. This information disclosure can include memory contents such as encryption keys, session tokens, or other confidential data that might be stored in the application's memory space. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with PDF documents from untrusted sources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing, as it can lead to unauthorized data access and potential privilege escalation. The read past the end of an allocated object condition can be leveraged by attackers to extract sensitive information that may aid in further exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007: "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1566.001: "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as it can be used in conjunction with other attack vectors to create a complete exploitation chain. The vulnerability's potential for code execution in the context of the current process represents a severe security risk that could allow attackers to compromise entire systems, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities in the same application or environment.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the latest version of Foxit PhantomPDF where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. The fix typically involves implementing proper memory boundary checks during U3D object processing, ensuring that all user-supplied data is validated before being processed. Security administrators should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious PDF content. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious PDF attachments and websites, while network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous PDF processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in preventing information disclosure attacks that can serve as precursors to more serious security incidents.