Poppler 0.72.0 PDF File PDFDoc.cc PDFDoc::setup input validation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Poppler 0.72.0. This impacts the function PDFDoc::setup of the file PDFDoc.cc of the component PDF File Handler. The manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2018-20662. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Poppler 0.72.0 (Document Reader Software) and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function PDFDoc::setup of the file PDFDoc.cc of the component PDF File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In Poppler 0.72.0, PDFDoc::setup in PDFDoc.cc allows attackers to cause a denial-of-service (application crash caused by Object.h SIGABRT, because of a wrong return value from PDFDoc::setup) by crafting a PDF file in which an xref data structure is mishandled during extractPDFSubtype processing.

The bug was discovered 12/31/2018. The weakness was disclosed 01/03/2019 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at gitlab.freedesktop.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2018-20662 since 01/03/2019. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 3 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 277626 (Fedora Security Update for poppler (FEDORA-2019-387e017332)).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at SecurityFocus (BID 107172†). The entries VDB-126534, VDB-130408, VDB-131232 and VDB-131526 are pretty similar. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Document Reader Software

Name

• Poppler

Version

• 0.72.0

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion