CVE-2020-13807 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Discover the circular reference mishandling vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.2. Learn about the impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.2. It has circular reference mishandling that causes a loop.
Understanding CVE-2020-13807
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF that could lead to a loop due to circular reference mishandling.
What is CVE-2020-13807?
The vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before version 9.7.2 allows for circular reference mishandling, resulting in a loop that could potentially be exploited by attackers.
The Impact of CVE-2020-13807
This vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-13807
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The issue in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.2 involves circular reference mishandling, leading to a loop that could be leveraged by attackers.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF
- Versions affected: Before 9.7.2
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious PDF file and enticing a user to open it, triggering the circular reference mishandling and potentially leading to a DoS or code execution.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-13807 is crucial to maintaining security.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF to version 9.7.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Exercise caution when opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement security measures such as network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all software, including Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF, is promptly updated with the latest security patches to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2020-13807.