CVE-2023-37344 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2024
Kofax Power PDF BMP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Kofax Power PDF. 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 parsing of BMP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20441.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The CVE-2023-37344 vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Kofax Power PDF software that enables remote code execution through malicious BMP file manipulation. This vulnerability resides within the application's file parsing engine specifically when processing bitmap image files, making it particularly dangerous as BMP format is commonly used for document images and attachments in business environments. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the length of user-supplied data before copying it into a fixed-size heap buffer, creating a predictable memory corruption scenario that attackers can exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic heap overflow pattern where maliciously crafted BMP files contain oversized data structures that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. When Kofax Power PDF attempts to parse these malformed files, the application copies user-provided data without adequate bounds checking, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader weakness of insufficient validation of length of input data. The attack vector requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage that hosts the vulnerable file or opening a specially crafted document containing the malicious BMP attachment, making this a typical client-side exploitation scenario.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it allows attackers to gain full control of the affected system's process context, potentially enabling complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within organizational networks. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries do not require physical access to target systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where document processing applications are widely deployed. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Kofax Power PDF and represents a significant risk to organizations that process numerous document attachments, as the attack can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or document sharing platforms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Kofax Power PDF installations to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent access to malicious BMP files. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify all affected systems and application instances, followed by immediate security updates from Kofax. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify suspicious file processing activities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in document processing applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, which are commonly used by threat actors to establish persistence and execute malicious code on compromised systems.