CVE-2020-10905 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 vertices in U3D objects. 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-10568.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
CVE-2020-10905 represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability affecting Foxit PhantomPDF version 9.7.1.29511 that demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition within the Universal 3D (U3D) object processing functionality. This vulnerability resides in the software's handling of vertex data structures within U3D files, where insufficient input validation permits maliciously crafted vertex coordinates to trigger memory access violations. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the boundaries of allocated data structures, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions including stack contents, heap data, or process memory that could contain authentication tokens, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure and potential privilege escalation scenarios. The attack vector requires user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage or opening a specially crafted PDF document containing malformed U3D objects, making this a client-side exploitation scenario that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate system access and T1059 for command execution through application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to create potential pathways for more severe attacks within the context of the compromised application process. When an attacker successfully triggers this buffer over-read condition, they may obtain access to memory contents that could include session tokens, user credentials, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a read past the end of an allocated object directly maps to ATT&CK's T1068 which covers local privilege escalation, as the leaked memory information could provide attackers with insights into memory layout, process structures, or security mechanisms. The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires a multi-stage approach where the initial information disclosure is used to gather intelligence about the target system's memory state, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as return-oriented programming (ROP) or stack pivoting techniques. This vulnerability represents a significant concern for organizations that rely on PDF processing for document exchange, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign file format processing can become a vector for information leakage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-10905 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in PDF processing components. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest version of Foxit PhantomPDF that contains patches addressing this specific buffer over-read condition, as the vendor likely implemented proper bounds checking and input validation for U3D vertex data processing. Additionally, implementing strict file format validation controls, content filtering, and sandboxing mechanisms for PDF document processing can significantly reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content inspection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious PDF file characteristics, particularly those containing U3D objects with malformed vertex data. The implementation of memory protection mechanisms including stack canaries, address space layout randomization (ASLR), and data execution prevention (DEP) can further mitigate the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent the execution of malicious PDF documents, while establishing comprehensive monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory access patterns or information disclosure events that could indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.