CVE-2026-57255 in PDF Editor
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2026
The application opens a PDF containing an abnormal color space whose attributes reference a valid but semantically malformed function. The function's output is not validated; when subsequently read, it produces an illegal pointer that accesses an out-of-bounds region, crashing the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during PDF processing when malformed color space attributes trigger improper memory handling. The flaw manifests when an application encounters a PDF file containing a color space definition with valid but semantically incorrect function references. According to CWE-125, this constitutes an out-of-bounds read vulnerability where the system attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper error handling within the PDF parsing routine, specifically when processing color space definitions that reference functions with malformed semantic structures.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves a multi-stage process beginning with PDF file parsing where the application encounters the abnormal color space definition. When the system processes the function reference attributes, it fails to validate the semantic correctness of the referenced function parameters. This validation gap allows the application to proceed with processing what appears to be a valid function reference but contains malformed data that produces an illegal pointer upon execution. The pointer arithmetic results in accessing memory locations that are either unmapped or outside the legitimate application address space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a remote code execution risk when exploited through malicious PDF files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The crash occurs during normal document rendering operations, making it particularly dangerous as users may encounter this issue while simply opening legitimate documents. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under TA0001 Initial Access and TA0002 Execution techniques, with the vulnerability serving as a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks. Security researchers have noted that similar issues in PDF processing libraries often serve as precursors to privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation at multiple levels within the PDF processing pipeline. The primary defense involves strengthening the color space attribute parsing logic to validate function references before execution, ensuring all semantic constraints are verified. Additionally, applications should employ address space layout randomization and stack canaries to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular updates to PDF processing libraries such as Adobe Acrobat, Foxit Reader, or open source alternatives like Poppler should be prioritized. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and email filtering systems can help detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end users. Memory protection mechanisms such as data execution prevention and heap integrity checking should also be enabled to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts.