CVE-2019-16088 : Security Advisory and Response

Xpdf 3.04 encounters a SIGSEGV error in the XRef::fetch function due to multiple recursive calls to Catalog::countPageTree in Catalog.cc.

Understanding CVE-2019-16088

Xpdf 3.04 vulnerability leading to a SIGSEGV error.

What is CVE-2019-16088?

Xpdf 3.04 experiences a SIGSEGV error in the XRef::fetch function when Catalog::countPageTree in Catalog.cc is recursively called multiple times.

The Impact of CVE-2019-16088

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-16088

Xpdf 3.04 vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

Xpdf 3.04 has a SIGSEGV in XRef::fetch in XRef.cc after many recursive calls to Catalog::countPageTree in Catalog.cc.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious PDF file to trigger the recursive calls and cause the application to crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate the CVE-2019-16088 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Xpdf to a patched version that addresses the SIGSEGV error.
Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious PDF files.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Xpdf to fix the vulnerability.