CVE-2018-20248 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been identified in Foxit Quick PDF Library that could lead to an access violation error due to out-of-bounds memory access.

Understanding CVE-2018-20248

This CVE involves a specific issue in Foxit Quick PDF Library versions prior to 16.12 that can be exploited when loading PDF files containing malformed or malicious content.

What is CVE-2018-20248?

The vulnerability in Foxit Quick PDF Library (versions prior to 16.12) arises when attempting to load PDF files with invalid xref table pointers or data, potentially resulting in an access violation error due to accessing memory beyond its allocated bounds.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20248

The vulnerability could allow attackers to trigger an access violation error, leading to potential security breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20248

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in Foxit Quick PDF Library (all versions prior to 16.12) occurs when loading PDF files with invalid xref table pointers or data, causing an access violation due to out-of-bounds memory access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Foxit Quick PDF Library
Vendor: n/a
Versions Affected: All versions prior to 16.12

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by loading PDF files using functions like LoadFromFile, LoadFromString, LoadFromStream, DAOpenFile, or DAOpenFileReadOnly, containing malformed or malicious content.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20248 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit Quick PDF Library to version 16.12 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems using Foxit Quick PDF Library are updated to version 16.12 or above to address the vulnerability.