CVE-2018-19149 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Poppler before version 0.70.0 has a vulnerability that leads to a NULL pointer dereference in specific functions. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2018-19149

In November 2018, CVE-2018-19149 was published, highlighting a vulnerability in Poppler versions prior to 0.70.0.

What is CVE-2018-19149?

The vulnerability involves a NULL pointer dereference issue in the function _poppler_attachment_new when called from poppler_annot_file_attachment_get_attachment.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19149

The vulnerability could be exploited to cause a denial of service (DoS) or potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19149

Poppler before 0.70.0 is susceptible to a NULL pointer dereference in the _poppler_attachment_new function.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when _poppler_attachment_new is invoked from poppler_annot_file_attachment_get_attachment.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions before 0.70.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the specific functions, leading to a NULL pointer dereference.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-19149, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Poppler to version 0.70.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories for patches and updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Implement robust security measures to prevent and detect potential exploits.
Conduct security assessments and audits periodically.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.