CVE-2022-37050 : What You Need to Know
Discover how CVE-2022-37050 in Poppler 22.07.0 enables denial-of-service attacks by mishandling xref data in PDF files. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
This article provides detailed information about CVE-2022-37050, a vulnerability found in Poppler 22.07.0 that allows attackers to cause a denial-of-service by crafting a malicious PDF file.
Understanding CVE-2022-37050
In Poppler 22.07.0, the vulnerability lies in the PDFDoc::savePageAs function in PDFDoc.c, leading to application crashes with SIGABRT.
What is CVE-2022-37050?
CVE-2022-37050 is a vulnerability in Poppler 22.07.0 that enables denial-of-service attacks due to mishandling of the xref data structure in getCatalog processing.
The Impact of CVE-2022-37050
The vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious PDF files to crash applications, leading to a denial-of-service condition. This issue originates from an incomplete patch of CVE-2018-20662.
Technical Details of CVE-2022-37050
The following details shed light on the technical aspects of CVE-2022-37050.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in Poppler 22.07.0 allows attackers to exploit mishandling of the xref data structure to trigger application crashes.
Affected Systems and Versions
All systems running Poppler 22.07.0 are affected by CVE-2022-37050.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a PDF file that triggers the mishandling of xref data structure during getCatalog processing.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2022-37050 and enhance system security, consider the following mitigation strategies.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users should exercise caution when handling untrusted PDF files to avoid triggering the vulnerability. Implementing content scanning mechanisms can help detect malicious PDF files.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update Poppler to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities and enhance system security. Educate users on safe PDF file handling practices to prevent exploitation.
Patching and Updates
Stay updated with security advisories from Poppler and apply relevant security patches promptly to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-37050.