CVE-2020-9549 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

PDFResurrect 0.12 through 0.19 has a vulnerability in get_type in pdf.c, leading to an out-of-bounds write via a crafted PDF document.

Understanding CVE-2020-9549

PDFResurrect version 0.12 through 0.19 is susceptible to an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the get_type function within pdf.c when processing a maliciously crafted PDF file.

What is CVE-2020-9549?

The CVE-2020-9549 vulnerability in PDFResurrect allows an attacker to trigger an out-of-bounds write by exploiting the get_type function in pdf.c through a specially crafted PDF document.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9549

This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9549

PDFResurrect 0.12 through 0.19 is affected by a specific vulnerability that allows for an out-of-bounds write via a crafted PDF document.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the get_type function in pdf.c, enabling an attacker to perform an out-of-bounds write operation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: PDFResurrect
Versions: 0.12 through 0.19

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker through the manipulation of a PDF file to trigger the out-of-bounds write in the get_type function.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-9549, immediate steps and long-term security practices are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PDFResurrect to a patched version if available.
Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Implement file integrity checks for downloaded PDF files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches.
Conduct security audits and assessments of PDF processing software.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that PDFResurrect is updated to a version that includes a fix for the CVE-2020-9549 vulnerability.