CVE-2018-20065 : What You Need to Know

Google Chrome prior to version 71.0.3578.80 had a vulnerability in PDFium related to URI action handling, allowing remote attackers to initiate unsafe navigations without user interaction.

Understanding CVE-2018-20065

This CVE entry describes a security flaw in Google Chrome that could be exploited by attackers to perform potentially harmful actions through manipulated PDF files.

What is CVE-2018-20065?

Before version 71.0.3578.80, a vulnerability in PDFium in Google Chrome allowed remote attackers to trigger unsafe navigations without user intervention using specially crafted PDF files.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20065

This vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to execute attacks through PDF files, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20065

Google Chrome's vulnerability in handling URI actions within PDFium prior to version 71.0.3578.80 enabled remote attackers to initiate unsafe navigations without user interaction.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in PDFium's handling of URI actions in Google Chrome allowed remote attackers to trigger potentially unsafe navigations without requiring user consent.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Versions Affected: < 71.0.3578.80

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious PDF files to trigger unsafe navigations on systems running affected versions of Google Chrome.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-20065, users and organizations should take immediate and long-term security measures to protect their systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 71.0.3578.80 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement security best practices to prevent and detect potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Google released a stable channel update for desktop users in December 2018 to address this vulnerability in Chrome.