CVE-2018-21238 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability was found in versions of Foxit PhantomPDF prior to 8.3.7. This vulnerability can be exploited through a call to ArrayBuffer(0xfffffffe), resulting in excessive memory usage.

Understanding CVE-2018-21238

An issue was discovered in Foxit PhantomPDF before 8.3.7, allowing memory consumption via an ArrayBuffer(0xfffffffe) call.

What is CVE-2018-21238?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Foxit PhantomPDF versions prior to 8.3.7 that can be abused to cause excessive memory usage.

The Impact of CVE-2018-21238

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition due to the high memory consumption triggered by the malicious call.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-21238

Foxit PhantomPDF CVE-2018-21238 has the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the software through a specific call, leading to memory exhaustion.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Foxit PhantomPDF
Versions Affected: Prior to 8.3.7

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by invoking a call to ArrayBuffer(0xfffffffe), causing the software to consume excessive memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-21238, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit PhantomPDF to version 8.3.7 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system resources for unusual memory consumption.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent memory-based attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Foxit Software.
Apply patches and updates as soon as they are released to protect against known vulnerabilities.