CVE-2019-20819 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Discover the vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.7, leading to excessive memory usage through nested function calls during XML parsing. Learn about the impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability was found in versions of Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF prior to 9.7, which allows for excessive memory usage through nested function calls during XML parsing.
Understanding CVE-2019-20819
An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7, allowing stack consumption via nested function calls for XML parsing.
What is CVE-2019-20819?
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.7 that enables excessive memory usage due to nested function calls during XML parsing.
The Impact of CVE-2019-20819
The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition by consuming excessive memory resources during XML parsing, potentially causing the application to crash or become unresponsive.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-20819
Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions before 9.7 are affected by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from nested function calls during XML parsing, leading to stack consumption and excessive memory usage.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF
- Versions: Prior to 9.7
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious XML files that trigger nested function calls, causing the application to consume excessive memory.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2019-20819.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF to version 9.7 or later to patch the vulnerability.
- Avoid opening untrusted or suspicious PDF files to minimize the risk of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious traffic that may exploit vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Foxit Software to address CVE-2019-20819.