CVE-2018-20316 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.5 and 8.3.10, respectively, are vulnerable to a race condition in the proxyDoAction function, potentially leading to a stack-based buffer overflow or out-of-bounds read.

Understanding CVE-2018-20316

This CVE describes a specific vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions.

What is CVE-2018-20316?

Prior to version 9.5, Foxit Reader, as well as PhantomPDF versions before 8.3.10 and 9.x prior to 9.5, contain a race condition in the proxyDoAction function. This condition can potentially lead to a stack-based buffer overflow or an out-of-bounds read. It is important to note that this issue differs from CVE-2018-20310 due to the utilization of a distinct opcode.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20316

The vulnerability can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or crash the application, posing a significant security risk to users.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20316

Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF are affected by a critical vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The race condition in the proxyDoAction function can result in a stack-based buffer overflow or an out-of-bounds read, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

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 by manipulating the race condition in the proxyDoAction function to trigger a buffer overflow or out-of-bounds read.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-20316 to enhance security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF to versions 9.5 and 8.3.10 or later, respectively.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the affected systems.

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.
Educate users on safe browsing habits and the importance of cybersecurity.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all software, including Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF, is kept up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.