PSA: FOXIT PDF “FLAWED DESIGN” EXPLOITATION

[FunkyBuddha]

Research by: Antonis Terefos

Introduction

PDF (Portable Document Format) files have become an integral part of modern digital communication. Renowned for their universality and fidelity, PDFs offer a robust platform for sharing documents across diverse computing environments. PDFs have evolved into a standard format for presenting text, images, and multimedia content with consistent layout and formatting, irrespective of the software, hardware, or operating system used to view them. This versatility has made PDFs indispensable in fields ranging from business and academia to government and personal use, serving as a reliable means of exchanging information in a structured and accessible manner.

In the realm of PDF viewers, Adobe Acrobat Reader reigns supreme as the industry’s dominant player. However, while Adobe Acrobat Reader holds the biggest market share, notable contenders are vying for attention, with Foxit PDF Reader being a prominent alternative. With more than 700 million users located in more than 200 countries and significant customers in the government sector like the US Air Force, Army, Navy & Missile Defense Agency, as well as in the technological sector like Google, Microsoft, Intel & Dell.

Check Point Research has identified an unusual pattern of behavior involving PDF exploitation, mainly targeting users of Foxit Reader. This exploit triggers security warnings that could deceive unsuspecting users into executing harmful commands. Check Point Research has observed variants of this exploit being actively utilized in the wild. Its low detection rate is attributed to the prevalent use of Adobe Reader in most sandboxes or antivirus solutions, as Adobe Reader is not susceptible to this specific exploit. Additionally, Check Point Research has observed various exploit builders, ranging from those coded in .NET to those written in Python, being used to deploy this exploit.

 

Info:

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https://research.checkpoint.com/2024/foxit-pdf-flawed-design-exploitation/