CVE-2023-27769
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Wondershare PDF Reader allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a malicious setup file. Users running version 1.0.1 of the software are affected, potentially enabling complete system compromise.
💻 Affected Systems
- Wondershare PDF Reader
📦 What is this software?
Pdf Reader by Wondershare
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with attacker gaining administrative privileges, installing malware, stealing data, and establishing persistence.
Likely Case
Malware installation leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or system disruption.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if software is isolated, user has limited privileges, and security controls block execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to run malicious file. The vulnerability is in the setup/installation component.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Not available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Uninstall Wondershare PDF Reader v1.0.1
2. Install alternative PDF reader software
3. Monitor vendor for security updates
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block execution of suspicious setup files
windowsUse application whitelisting to prevent execution of unknown .exe files
Using AppLocker: New-AppLockerPolicy -RuleType Path -Action Deny -Path "*pdfreader_setup*" -User Everyone
Remove vulnerable software
windowsUninstall the vulnerable version completely
Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall Wondershare PDF Reader
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Run software with least privilege user accounts (not administrator)
- Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if compromised
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check installed programs for Wondershare PDF Reader version 1.0.1Check Version:
wmic product where name="Wondershare PDF Reader" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm software is uninstalled or updated to a newer version📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Process creation events for pdfreader_setup_full13143.exe
- Unusual child processes spawned from PDF Reader
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from PDF Reader to unknown IPs
- DNS requests for command and control domains
SIEM Query:
ProcessName="pdfreader_setup_full13143.exe" OR ParentProcessName="Wondershare PDF Reader" AND CommandLine CONTAINS "cmd" OR "powershell"