CVE-2019-12154 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

RealObjects PDFreactor before version 10.1.10722 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity (XXE) injection attack, allowing malicious XML content to be injected into externally referenced resources. This can lead to unauthorized access to local files and potential denial of service attacks.

Understanding CVE-2019-12154

RealObjects PDFreactor is susceptible to an XXE vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers to manipulate XML content and compromise the security of the system.

What is CVE-2019-12154?

This CVE refers to the XXE vulnerability in the XML parser library of RealObjects PDFreactor before version 10.1.10722. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to insert malicious XML content into externally referenced resources, potentially gaining access to local files and causing denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12154

The vulnerability in RealObjects PDFreactor can have the following consequences:

Unauthorized access to local file contents
Possibility of denial of service conditions

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12154

RealObjects PDFreactor's vulnerability to XXE injection can be further understood through the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The XXE vulnerability in RealObjects PDFreactor allows attackers to supply malicious XML content in externally referenced resources, leading to disclosure of local file contents and potential denial of service conditions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: RealObjects PDFreactor
Vulnerable Version: Before 10.1.10722

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the XXE vulnerability by injecting malicious XML content into externally referenced resources, enabling them to access local files and potentially disrupt services.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2019-12154 vulnerability in RealObjects PDFreactor, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update RealObjects PDFreactor to version 10.1.10722 or later to patch the XXE vulnerability
Implement input validation to prevent malicious XML content injection

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software to address security vulnerabilities
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by RealObjects PDFreactor promptly to mitigate the XXE vulnerability