CVE-2024-27337 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
Kofax Power PDF TIF File Parsing Stack-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 TIF 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 stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-22033.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The CVE-2024-27337 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Kofax Power PDF software that enables remote code execution through improper handling of TIF file parsing operations. This vulnerability resides within the software's image processing capabilities where it fails to validate the length of user-supplied data before copying it into a fixed-length stack buffer. The flaw manifests when the application processes maliciously crafted TIF files, creating a condition where an attacker can overflow the allocated buffer space and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data structures. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution issue means that attackers can exploit it without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content through web browsing or file attachments. The requirement for user interaction through visiting malicious web pages or opening malicious files indicates this is a client-side attack vector that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver payloads, aligning with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader weakness type CWE-119, indicating inadequate protection of memory resources against buffer overflows. The attack surface is primarily through the TIF file format parsing functionality, where the software's failure to implement proper bounds checking creates an exploitable condition that can be leveraged to gain unauthorized code execution privileges within the context of the running Power PDF process. The security implications extend beyond simple code execution as this vulnerability could allow attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation typically follows a pattern where attackers craft malicious TIF files containing oversized data structures that trigger the buffer overflow condition during parsing operations. This aligns with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system. Organizations utilizing Kofax Power PDF must consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to malicious TIF files, while also prioritizing immediate patch deployment to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in preventing exploitation of buffer overflow conditions, particularly in applications that process untrusted file formats. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual file processing activities and network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability requires user interaction to activate, making user awareness and security training essential components of defense. The ZDI-CAN-22033 reference indicates this vulnerability was identified through coordinated vulnerability disclosure processes, highlighting the importance of vulnerability research and responsible disclosure practices in identifying and mitigating such security flaws in commercial software products.