CVE-2019-19819 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2019-19819, a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in Nitro Free PDF Reader version 12.0.0.112. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.
Nitro Free PDF Reader version 12.0.0.112 is vulnerable to a NULL Pointer Dereference issue in the npdf.dll library's JBIG2Globals component when handling manipulated Unicode content.
Understanding CVE-2019-19819
The vulnerability in Nitro Free PDF Reader version 12.0.0.112 allows attackers to exploit a flaw in the destruction of PDAnnotHandler data, leading to a NULL Pointer Dereference.
What is CVE-2019-19819?
The npdf.dll library's JBIG2Globals component in Nitro Free PDF Reader version 12.0.0.112 experiences a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability through manipulated Unicode content during the destruction of PDAnnotHandler data.
The Impact of CVE-2019-19819
This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-19819
The technical details of the CVE-2019-19819 vulnerability are as follows:
Vulnerability Description
The npdf.dll library in Nitro Free PDF Reader version 12.0.0.112 is susceptible to a NULL Pointer Dereference via crafted Unicode content, specifically in the CAPPDAnnotHandlerUtils::PDAnnotHandlerDestroyData2 function.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Nitro Free PDF Reader
- Version: 12.0.0.112
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating Unicode content during the destruction of PDAnnotHandler data, triggering the NULL Pointer Dereference.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2019-19819, consider the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Nitro Free PDF Reader to a patched version that addresses the NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability.
- Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to detect and prevent malicious activities.
Patching and Updates
- Check for security updates and patches released by Nitro Software to fix the vulnerability in Nitro Free PDF Reader version 12.0.0.112.