CVE-2023-38091 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2024
Kofax Power PDF response Type Confusion 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 implementation of the app.response method. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a type confusion condition. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20601.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The CVE-2023-38091 vulnerability represents a critical type confusion flaw in Kofax Power PDF that enables remote code execution through improper input validation within the application's response handling mechanism. This vulnerability resides in the app.response method implementation where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data creates conditions for type confusion attacks. The flaw operates by allowing attackers to manipulate data types in ways that the application does not properly anticipate, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be exploited for malicious purposes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based attacks where users must simply visit a malicious page or open a crafted file, making it highly accessible to threat actors. This represents a classic example of a type confusion vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current process, potentially compromising the entire system. The vulnerability has been assigned the ZDI-CAN-20601 identifier, indicating it was tracked by the Zero Day Initiative and subsequently published in the CVE database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation practices within the PDF processing framework of Kofax Power PDF. When the application processes user-supplied data through the app.response method, it fails to properly validate the types of data being received, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can manipulate the application's memory structures. This type confusion condition occurs when the application's runtime environment encounters data that it cannot properly categorize or handle, leading to memory corruption that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where type checking mechanisms are either absent or insufficiently implemented. According to CWE guidelines, this maps to CWE-471: "Incorrectly Handling of Data Type" which specifically addresses situations where software fails to properly validate or handle data types during processing. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through web browsing or file opening, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where users frequently interact with external content.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-38091 extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures through lateral movement and privilege escalation. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can execute commands with the privileges of the current user process, which often runs with elevated permissions in PDF processing applications. The remote exploitation capability means that threat actors can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or network proximity. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as it enables attackers to execute malicious code remotely through compromised applications. Organizations running Kofax Power PDF are particularly at risk since PDF processing applications are frequently used across enterprise environments for document management, workflow automation, and business-critical processes. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed enterprise software creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited for data exfiltration, system compromise, and persistence establishment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-38091 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems and implementation of additional defensive measures. Organizations must prioritize applying vendor-provided security updates as soon as they become available to address the underlying type confusion vulnerability in the app.response method. Network segmentation and web filtering solutions should be implemented to prevent access to potentially malicious content until patches are deployed. Input validation controls should be enhanced at multiple layers including application-level filtering and content inspection mechanisms. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in PDF processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege controls to limit the impact of successful exploitation by reducing the privileges of PDF processing applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices including proper type validation and defensive programming techniques that are essential for preventing similar issues in the future. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential type confusion vulnerabilities in similar applications and systems.