CVE-2020-10896 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.7.1.29511. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of U3D objects in PDF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process.

Understanding CVE-2020-10896

This CVE-2020-10896 vulnerability affects Foxit PhantomPDF version 9.7.1.29511.

What is CVE-2020-10896?

CVE-2020-10896 is a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.7.1.29511. The flaw lies in the handling of U3D objects in PDF files due to improper validation of user-supplied data.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10896

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 7.8. It requires user interaction to exploit and can lead to remote code execution with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10896

This section provides technical details of the CVE-2020-10896 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected Foxit PhantomPDF installations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: PhantomPDF
Vendor: Foxit
Version: 9.7.1.29511

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Exploitation may occur when a user visits a malicious page or opens a malicious file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-10896 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit PhantomPDF to a non-vulnerable version.
Avoid visiting untrusted websites or opening suspicious files.
Implement security measures to prevent arbitrary code execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and security patches.
Educate users on safe browsing habits and file handling.
Employ network and endpoint security solutions to detect and prevent exploits.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.