CVE-2024-5305 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2024
Kofax Power PDF PDF 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 PDF 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-22921.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2025
The CVE-2024-5305 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Kofax Power PDF software that enables remote code execution under specific conditions. This vulnerability resides within the PDF file parsing functionality of the application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard document processing activities. The flaw specifically manifests when the software processes user-supplied PDF data without adequate validation of input lengths before copying this data into fixed-size stack buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning that targets must either visit a malicious webpage hosting the crafted PDF file or directly open the malicious document. This requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes user execution as a method for initial access and privilege escalation. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are诱导 to open seemingly legitimate PDF documents that contain malicious code designed to exploit the buffer overflow. The vulnerability's impact is severe because successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current process, potentially leading to full system compromise.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing and sharing. The stack-based nature of the buffer overflow means that attackers can overwrite return addresses and other critical stack data, potentially allowing them to redirect program execution flow to malicious code. The vulnerability's classification as remote code execution means that attackers do not need physical access to systems, making it particularly attractive for large-scale attacks. Organizations using Kofax Power PDF across their enterprise networks face heightened risk, especially in environments where PDF files are frequently shared and processed. The vulnerability's presence in the parsing component makes it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any PDF file, regardless of its source or content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5305 should focus on immediate patch management and network-based protections. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor-provided security updates as soon as they become available, as these patches typically address the underlying buffer overflow by implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Network administrators should consider implementing PDF file filtering and sandboxing solutions to prevent potentially malicious documents from reaching end users. The vulnerability's remote execution capability makes network-based protections crucial, including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious PDF file patterns. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening PDF files from trusted sources and reporting suspicious documents to security teams. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual PDF processing activities and potential exploitation attempts that may indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.