CVE-2023-42100 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
Kofax Power PDF PDF File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Read Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information 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 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 arbitrary code in the context of the current process. . Was ZDI-CAN-21604.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The CVE-2023-42100 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in Kofax Power PDF's PDF file parsing functionality that exposes sensitive information through improper input validation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-Bounds Read category, where the software reads memory beyond the bounds of a allocated buffer during PDF processing operations. The flaw specifically manifests when the application parses PDF files without adequate bounds checking on user-supplied data, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted PDF content can trigger unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit successfully, meaning an attacker must convince a target to visit a malicious webpage or open a specially crafted PDF file, making it a client-side attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the PDF parsing engine of Kofax Power PDF. When processing PDF files, the application fails to properly validate the length and structure of various data elements within the PDF stream, particularly in areas where it handles object references and memory allocation. This allows an attacker to construct a malicious PDF file that contains malformed data structures designed to cause the parser to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. The out-of-bounds read can potentially expose sensitive information from adjacent memory locations, including but not limited to stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments that may contain credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data. The vulnerability's exploitation chain typically involves crafting a PDF file that triggers the parser to access memory regions that should not be accessible, potentially leading to information disclosure that could aid in more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more severe compromise scenarios. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to memory contents that may contain sensitive data such as user credentials, system configuration details, or other confidential information stored in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with PDF documents from external sources. The requirement for user interaction to trigger exploitation suggests that this vulnerability is often delivered through social engineering campaigns, phishing emails, or malicious websites that entice users to open compromised PDF files, representing a common attack pattern in the industry that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 Phishing and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter.
Security mitigations for CVE-2023-42100 should focus on both immediate patching and operational controls to reduce risk exposure. Organizations must prioritize applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, as this vulnerability represents a high-severity threat that could be actively exploited in the wild. Additionally, implementing content filtering solutions that scan PDF files for suspicious patterns and malformed structures can help prevent exploitation attempts before they reach end users. Network-based controls such as web application firewalls and email security gateways should be configured to block known malicious PDF content and suspicious file downloads. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening PDF files from untrusted sources and the importance of verifying document authenticity before processing. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly susceptible to layered defense strategies that combine multiple security controls to create a comprehensive protection approach against both direct exploitation attempts and potential follow-on attacks that could leverage the information disclosure for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network environment.