CVE-2019-20815 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability was identified in versions of Foxit PhantomPDF prior to 8.3.12. This vulnerability enables excessive stack usage through the use of nested function calls during XML parsing.

Understanding CVE-2019-20815

An issue was discovered in Foxit PhantomPDF before 8.3.12. It allows stack consumption via nested function calls for XML parsing.

What is CVE-2019-20815?

Vulnerability in Foxit PhantomPDF versions prior to 8.3.12
Allows excessive stack usage through nested function calls during XML parsing

The Impact of CVE-2019-20815

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20815

The technical details of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Vulnerability in Foxit PhantomPDF prior to version 8.3.12
Enables excessive stack usage through nested function calls during XML parsing

Affected Systems and Versions

Foxit PhantomPDF versions prior to 8.3.12

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by using nested function calls during XML parsing to consume excessive stack space

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2019-20815:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit PhantomPDF to version 8.3.12 or later to patch the vulnerability
Monitor for any unusual activities on the system that could indicate exploitation

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to the latest versions to prevent known vulnerabilities
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Foxit Software to address CVE-2019-20815