CVE-2019-13736 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A possible vulnerability in PDFium, an open-source PDF rendering engine used in Google Chrome before version 79.0.3945.79, could lead to heap corruption if a maliciously crafted PDF file is opened, potentially allowing a remote attacker to exploit the system.

Understanding CVE-2019-13736

Integer overflow in PDFium in Google Chrome prior to 79.0.3945.79 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted PDF file.

What is CVE-2019-13736?

CVE ID: CVE-2019-13736
Published Date: December 10, 2019
Update Date: March 13, 2020
Severity: High

The Impact of CVE-2019-13736

This vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption by using a specially crafted PDF file, potentially leading to system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13736

Integer overflow in PDFium in Google Chrome prior to version 79.0.3945.79 could result in heap corruption, posing a security risk.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in PDFium could be exploited by a remote attacker through a maliciously crafted PDF file, potentially causing heap corruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Affected Version: < 79.0.3945.79

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises when a user opens a specially crafted PDF file, triggering heap corruption that could be exploited by a remote attacker.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2019-13736.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 79.0.3945.79 or later to patch 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 best practices to prevent and detect potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor advisories and security announcements for patch availability.