CVE-2020-13809 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.2 that allows resource consumption via long strings in the content stream.

Understanding CVE-2020-13809

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF that could be exploited through resource consumption using lengthy strings in the content stream.

What is CVE-2020-13809?

CVE-2020-13809 is a security vulnerability found in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions prior to 9.7.2. It enables attackers to exhaust resources by inserting excessively long strings into the content stream.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13809

This vulnerability could lead to resource exhaustion, potentially causing denial of service (DoS) attacks or system instability due to excessive resource consumption.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13809

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF allows attackers to consume resources by injecting long strings into the content stream, potentially leading to system instability or denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF
Versions affected: Before 9.7.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting and inserting excessively long strings into the content stream of Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF, causing resource exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-13809 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF to version 9.7.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system resources for unusual consumption that could indicate an ongoing attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent resource exhaustion attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF to address CVE-2020-13809.