CVE-2019-20816 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Foxit PhantomPDF prior to version 8.3.12 is affected by a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability during file data analysis.

Understanding CVE-2019-20816

This CVE identifies a specific security issue in Foxit PhantomPDF software versions before 8.3.12.

What is CVE-2019-20816?

The vulnerability in Foxit PhantomPDF before version 8.3.12 involves a NULL pointer dereference that occurs while parsing file data.

The Impact of CVE-2019-20816

The vulnerability could potentially lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition or arbitrary code execution by an attacker exploiting the NULL pointer dereference.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20816

Foxit PhantomPDF CVE-2019-20816 has the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

An issue in Foxit PhantomPDF before 8.3.12 results in a NULL pointer dereference during file data parsing.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Foxit PhantomPDF
Versions affected: All versions before 8.3.12

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating file data to trigger the NULL pointer dereference.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-20816, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit PhantomPDF to version 8.3.12 or later to eliminate the vulnerability.
Exercise caution when handling PDF files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of software updates and security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.