CVE-2024-27332 in PDF-XChange Editor
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2024
PDF-XChange Editor JPG File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Read Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. 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 JPG 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-22288.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The CVE-2024-27332 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within PDF-XChange Editor's handling of JPG image files, classified under CWE-125 as an "Out-of-bounds Read" condition. This vulnerability resides in the image parsing component of the PDF editor software, specifically when processing maliciously crafted JPG files that are embedded within PDF documents or opened directly. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly bounds-check user-supplied image data before attempting to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious JPG files that, when processed by the vulnerable software, cause the application to read memory contents that should not be accessible, potentially exposing sensitive information including system memory contents, configuration data, or other confidential information.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, as outlined in the attack scenario where targets must either visit a malicious webpage containing embedded malicious JPG content or open a specially crafted PDF file containing the harmful image data. This requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," which describes how adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in software to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios where users might unknowingly encounter malicious content while browsing or downloading documents. The out-of-bounds read condition can potentially expose memory addresses, application state information, or other sensitive data that could aid in further exploitation attempts, including privilege escalation or information gathering for subsequent attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the memory corruption characteristics inherent in out-of-bounds reads can potentially be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the PDF-XChange Editor process. This represents a significant security risk for organizations that rely on PDF editing software for document processing, as the vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive documents or systems. The vulnerability affects all versions of PDF-XChange Editor that process JPG files, making it a widespread concern for users who may have encountered this software in enterprise environments. The disclosure of memory contents could reveal application-specific information such as stack pointers, heap addresses, or other internal state data that might be valuable to attackers attempting to develop more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27332 should prioritize immediate software updates from the vendor, as this vulnerability requires a patch to address the underlying bounds-checking issues in the JPG parsing implementation. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious content containing suspicious JPG file patterns, particularly when these files are embedded within PDF documents. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted PDF documents and web content that might contain malicious embedded images. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis, looking for patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 and potential for arbitrary code execution through memory corruption makes it a high-priority issue that requires immediate attention from security administrators to protect against potential compromise of sensitive information and system integrity.