CVE-2026-57247 in PDF Editor
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2026
The application re-enters the document structure via field processing and deletes the current page, and then continues using the field objects obtained before deletion, triggering an illegal read and crashing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a classic use-after-free condition that occurs during document processing operations within applications handling structured content. The flaw manifests when the application processes field objects in a document structure and subsequently removes the current page from memory while maintaining references to previously acquired field objects. This creates a scenario where field objects continue to reference memory locations that have been deallocated, leading to illegal read operations when the application attempts to access these stale references. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices during document navigation and modification processes, particularly in scenarios involving page deletion and field reprocessing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where program code continues to reference memory after it has been freed. In document processing applications, this typically occurs when the application maintains object references across page boundaries without proper validation of memory state or reference integrity. The field processing mechanism becomes a critical attack surface because field objects often contain complex data structures that reference other document elements, making the memory corruption particularly dangerous. When the application attempts to access these freed field objects, it triggers undefined behavior that can result in crashes, data corruption, or potentially exploitable conditions.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to document processing applications including word processors, PDF editors, and content management systems. The crash condition can be triggered through malformed documents containing specific field configurations that cause the application to enter a page deletion cycle while maintaining field references. Attackers could potentially craft malicious documents designed to exploit this timing issue, causing denial of service attacks against end users or system administrators. In some implementations, the illegal read operations might expose sensitive memory contents or allow for information disclosure, depending on how the application handles memory access violations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where document processing applications are heavily utilized and may process untrusted content from external sources.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust memory management practices including reference counting, smart pointers, or garbage collection mechanisms that prevent access to freed memory regions. Applications should validate object references before accessing field objects following page deletion operations, ensuring that all references are either properly invalidated or re-established before use. Input validation and sanitization of document structures can help prevent the specific conditions that lead to this vulnerability by detecting and rejecting malformed field configurations. Additionally, implementing proper exception handling and crash recovery mechanisms can help maintain application stability even when such memory corruption occurs. Security controls should also include regular updates and patches for document processing libraries and frameworks, as many of these vulnerabilities are well-documented in security advisories from vendors like microsoft, adobe, and other software providers who have addressed similar use-after-free conditions in their products.