CVE-2019-17183 : Security Advisory and Response

Foxit Reader versions prior to 9.7 are susceptible to an Access Violation and crash due to insufficient memory.

Understanding CVE-2019-17183

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Foxit Reader that can lead to a crash when the application encounters insufficient memory.

What is CVE-2019-17183?

Insufficient memory can trigger an Access Violation in Foxit Reader versions before 9.7, potentially causing the application to crash.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17183

The vulnerability can result in denial of service, disrupting user experience and potentially leading to data loss if the application crashes unexpectedly.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17183

Foxit Reader's vulnerability due to insufficient memory is outlined below.

Vulnerability Description

Foxit Reader versions prior to 9.7 are prone to an Access Violation and crash under low memory conditions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Foxit Reader
Vendor: Foxit Software
Versions Affected: Prior to 9.7

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is triggered when the application runs out of memory, leading to an Access Violation and subsequent crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-17183 and enhance security, consider the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit Reader to version 9.7 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system memory usage to prevent memory-related crashes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement memory management best practices to optimize application performance and stability.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from Foxit Software to address vulnerabilities promptly.