CVE-2023-44434 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
Kofax Power 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 handling 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 buffer. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-21979.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2025
The CVE-2023-44434 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within Kofax Power PDF's PDF file parsing functionality, classified under CWE-125 as improper validation of buffer boundaries. This vulnerability resides in the software's handling of user-supplied PDF data, where insufficient input validation permits maliciously crafted PDF files to trigger memory access violations. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read data beyond the allocated buffer space during PDF parsing operations, creating potential information disclosure channels that could expose sensitive memory contents to unauthorized parties.
The exploitability of this vulnerability requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage that loads a crafted PDF file or opening a malicious PDF document directly. This user interaction requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the exploitation of applications through user interaction. The vulnerability's nature as an out-of-bounds read creates a pathway for attackers to potentially extract memory contents that may include sensitive information such as encryption keys, session tokens, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory locations. This information disclosure capability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the memory corruption aspects can potentially be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the current process. When combined with other vulnerabilities or exploitation techniques, this flaw could enable attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer over-read vulnerability makes it particularly concerning because it can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential system compromise, especially when the leaked memory contents contain pointers or other executable code fragments.
Organizations using Kofax Power PDF should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches, as the vulnerability's remote exploitation potential combined with its information disclosure capabilities presents significant risk. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary network isolation of affected systems until patches are applied. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and buffer boundary checking in document processing applications, particularly those handling untrusted user input. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for PDF processing to limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future, aligning with defense-in-depth strategies recommended by cybersecurity frameworks.