CVE-2019-17063 : Security Advisory and Response

Snowtide PDFxStream before 3.7.1 (for Java) mishandles page trees, allowing specially crafted PDF files to trigger long-running computations.

Understanding CVE-2019-17063

A vulnerability in Snowtide PDFxStream before 3.7.1 for Java can be exploited by malicious PDF files, causing extended computation times.

What is CVE-2019-17063?

Snowtide PDFxStream before 3.7.1 (for Java) mishandles page trees, leading to prolonged computation when processing crafted PDF files.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17063

Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in denial of service (DoS) attacks by causing excessive computation durations.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17063

Snowtide PDFxStream before 3.7.1 (for Java) vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

A flaw in Snowtide PDFxStream before 3.7.1 (for Java) allows specially crafted PDF files to trigger extended computation due to mishandling of page trees.

Affected Systems and Versions

Snowtide PDFxStream before version 3.7.1 for Java

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability by crafting PDF files to initiate long-running computations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect systems from CVE-2019-17063.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Snowtide PDFxStream to version 3.7.1 or newer.
Be cautious when opening PDF files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network and system monitoring to detect unusual computation activities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Snowtide for PDFxStream to mitigate the vulnerability.