CVE-2020-17410
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious GIF files in Foxit PhantomPDF. It affects users of Foxit PhantomPDF 10.0.0.35798 who open untrusted documents.
💻 Affected Systems
- Foxit PhantomPDF
📦 What is this software?
Foxit Reader by Foxitsoftware
Phantompdf by Foxitsoftware
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise through remote code execution in the context of the current user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement.
Likely Case
Malware installation or data exfiltration when users open malicious PDFs containing crafted GIF images from untrusted sources.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper application sandboxing, least privilege, and file validation controls are in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction but is straightforward once malicious file is opened.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 10.0.1.35811 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.php
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download latest version from Foxit website. 2. Run installer. 3. Restart system. 4. Verify version is 10.0.1.35811 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable GIF parsing
windowsConfigure Foxit PhantomPDF to disable GIF file parsing through registry or configuration settings
Not applicable - requires GUI configuration
Application sandboxing
windowsRun Foxit PhantomPDF in restricted mode or sandboxed environment
Not applicable - requires third-party sandboxing tools
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution
- Use network segmentation to limit Foxit PhantomPDF internet access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Help > About in Foxit PhantomPDF for version 10.0.0.35798Check Version:
wmic product where name="Foxit PhantomPDF" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 10.0.1.35811 or higher in Help > About📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes when processing GIF files
- Unusual process spawning from Foxit processes
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from Foxit processes to unknown IPs
- DNS requests for suspicious domains
SIEM Query:
process_name:"FoxitPhantomPDF.exe" AND (event_id:1000 OR parent_process:explorer.exe)