CVE-2019-18958 : Security Advisory and Response

Nitro Pro before version 13.2 is vulnerable to a security issue where a debug.log file is created in the same directory as a .pdf file when OCR is performed on a JPEG output from a scanner. This file could pose a security risk if edited and executed.

Understanding CVE-2019-18958

If Nitro Pro versions prior to 13.2 are used to perform OCR on a JPEG output from a scanner, a debug.log file is generated in the same directory as the resulting .pdf file. It has been reported that this file could pose a security risk if edited and subsequently executed.

What is CVE-2019-18958?

Nitro Pro before 13.2 creates a debug.log file in the directory where a .pdf file is located, if the .pdf document was produced by an OCR operation on the JPEG output of a scanner. Reportedly, this can have a security risk if debug.log is later edited and then executed.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18958

The vulnerability allows for the creation of a debug.log file that could be manipulated to execute malicious code.
Attackers could potentially exploit this issue to gain unauthorized access or perform other malicious activities on the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18958

Nitro Pro versions prior to 13.2 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When OCR is performed on a JPEG output from a scanner using Nitro Pro before version 13.2, a debug.log file is created in the same directory as the resulting .pdf file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Nitro Pro
Vendor: Nitro
Versions affected: Prior to 13.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The security risk arises when the debug.log file generated by the OCR operation is edited and subsequently executed, potentially allowing attackers to run malicious code.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-18958.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Nitro Pro to version 13.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid editing or executing unknown or suspicious debug.log files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement security best practices to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Nitro Pro promptly to ensure the security of the software and prevent potential exploitation of vulnerabilities.