CVE-2019-13706 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A remote attacker could exploit heap corruption by utilizing a carefully crafted PDF file, leading to out of bounds memory access in PDFium in versions of Google Chrome before 78.0.3904.70.

Understanding CVE-2019-13706

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Google Chrome that could allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted PDF file.

What is CVE-2019-13706?

CVE-2019-13706 is an out of bounds memory access vulnerability in PDFium in Google Chrome versions prior to 78.0.3904.70. An attacker could trigger heap corruption by using a malicious PDF file.

The Impact of CVE-2019-13706

The vulnerability could result in out of bounds memory access, potentially leading to unauthorized access or execution of arbitrary code by an attacker.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13706

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in PDFium in Google Chrome before 78.0.3904.70 allows a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a carefully crafted PDF file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Versions Affected: < 78.0.3904.70

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a remote attacker using a specially crafted PDF file to trigger heap corruption and gain unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-13706 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 78.0.3904.70 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.
Implement security measures such as firewalls and antivirus programs to prevent malicious attacks.

Patching and Updates

Google released a patch in version 78.0.3904.70 to address the vulnerability. Ensure all systems are updated with the latest patches and security updates.