CVE-2024-54731 in CPDF
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2025
cpdf through 2.8 allows stack consumption via a crafted PDF document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54731 affects the cpdf library version 2.8 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through stack consumption via maliciously crafted PDF documents. This issue represents a classic stack overflow condition that can be exploited by attackers to disrupt normal application operation and potentially execute arbitrary code. The cpdf library is widely used for PDF manipulation and processing, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on PDF handling capabilities in their workflows. The flaw manifests when the library processes specially constructed PDF files that contain excessive nesting or recursive structures within their internal data representations, causing the application to consume excessive stack memory during parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the cpdf library's PDF parsing routines. When encountering malformed PDF documents with excessive recursion or deeply nested structures, the library's recursive parsing functions can consume stack space without proper bounds checking. This behavior aligns with CWE-772, which addresses missing resource exhaustion protection, and CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability operates at the parsing layer of the application, where PDF objects are processed and interpreted, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal PDF document processing operations without requiring special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious file.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54731 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially lead to more severe consequences depending on the environment where the vulnerable cpdf library is deployed. Systems that process untrusted PDF content, such as email servers, document management systems, and web applications handling PDF uploads, become vulnerable to this attack vector. The vulnerability can be exploited through the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves gaining access to systems through the exploitation of software vulnerabilities, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system compromise. Organizations utilizing cpdf for automated PDF processing may experience service disruptions, application crashes, or even complete system failures when encountering maliciously crafted documents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-54731 should prioritize immediate patching of the cpdf library to version 2.9 or later, where the stack consumption issues have been addressed through improved input validation and memory management. Organizations should also implement defensive measures such as PDF content filtering, sandboxing of PDF processing environments, and strict input validation for all PDF documents before processing. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls or content filtering solutions that can identify and block suspicious PDF content. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate PDF processing functionality while maintaining the security improvements.