CVE-2024-5307 in Power PDF
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2024
Kofax Power PDF AcroForm Annotation 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 Annotation objects in AcroForms. 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-22933.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2025
The CVE-2024-5307 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Kofax Power PDF's handling of AcroForm annotations, specifically affecting the annotation object processing functionality. This vulnerability resides in the software's document parsing mechanism where it fails to properly validate user-supplied data during the processing of AcroForm elements. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries while parsing annotation objects within PDF documents. The vulnerability's classification as an information disclosure issue stems from the fact that the out-of-bounds read can potentially expose sensitive memory contents to unauthorized parties, though it can also serve as a stepping stone for more severe exploits. This vulnerability affects all versions of Kofax Power PDF that handle AcroForm annotations, making it a widespread concern for organizations that rely on this document processing software for business operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the annotation processing subsystem where the application fails to validate the size and structure of annotation objects before attempting to read from memory locations. When a malicious PDF document containing specially crafted annotation data is processed, the application's buffer management logic does not properly check array bounds or validate the integrity of the annotation data structure. This allows an attacker to manipulate the annotation data in such a way that when the parsing routine attempts to read beyond the allocated buffer, it may access adjacent memory regions containing sensitive information such as stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments. The vulnerability's design aligns with CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The flaw essentially creates a memory access pattern where the application's pointer arithmetic or array indexing logic fails to account for the actual size of the data being processed, leading to unauthorized memory access that can result in information leakage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can be leveraged as a precursor to more serious exploitation techniques within the broader ATT&CK framework. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gather enough information to facilitate further attacks including stack smashing, heap spraying, or other memory corruption techniques that could lead to arbitrary code execution. The requirement for user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly concerning in enterprise environments where employees frequently open PDF documents from external sources or web-based applications. The attack vector typically involves a malicious webpage or email attachment containing a specially crafted PDF document that triggers the vulnerable code path when opened by the target user. Organizations with extensive PDF processing workflows, including those in financial services, healthcare, or government sectors, face significant risk exposure as this vulnerability can be exploited through common attack channels such as phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, or compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5307 should focus on immediate remediation through vendor-provided patches and updates, while implementing defensive measures to reduce attack surface exposure. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures to ensure all affected Kofax Power PDF installations receive the latest security updates from the vendor. Network-based defenses including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious PDF content before it reaches end users, though these measures are not foolproof given the sophisticated nature of modern attack techniques. Security teams should implement monitoring and alerting for unusual PDF processing activities or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening PDF documents from trusted sources and avoiding suspicious email attachments or web links. The vulnerability's classification as an information disclosure issue means that organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of PDF processing components to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader software ecosystem.