CVE-2018-20309 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.5 and 8.3.10, respectively, are affected by a race condition leading to potential buffer overflow or out-of-bounds read.

Understanding CVE-2018-20309

This CVE involves a race condition in the proxyGetAppEdition function of Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions.

What is CVE-2018-20309?

The vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.5 and 8.3.10, respectively, can result in a stack-based buffer overflow or an out-of-bounds read.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20309

The race condition in the proxyGetAppEdition function may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20309

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a race condition in the proxyGetAppEdition function, potentially leading to a stack-based buffer overflow or an out-of-bounds read.

Affected Systems and Versions

Foxit Reader versions before 9.5
PhantomPDF versions before 8.3.10 and 9.x before 9.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow or an out-of-bounds read, compromising system integrity.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF to versions 9.5 and 8.3.10 or higher.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that may indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.