CVE-2023-37347
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious U3D files or visiting malicious web pages containing such files. It affects Kofax Power PDF users who process untrusted U3D files. The flaw exists in U3D file parsing where improper bounds checking enables out-of-bounds reads that can lead to remote code execution.
💻 Affected Systems
- Kofax Power PDF
📦 What is this software?
Power Pdf by Tungstenautomation
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the PDF application user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation or system compromise when users open malicious PDF files containing crafted U3D content, potentially leading to malware installation or data exfiltration.
If Mitigated
Application crash or denial of service if exploit attempts are blocked by security controls, with no code execution achieved.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file). The vulnerability is in U3D file parsing which requires specific file crafting knowledge.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified in provided references, check Kofax security advisory for specific version
Vendor Advisory: https://docshield.kofax.com/PowerPDF/en_US/5.5.0-d3s176i9m5/help/Online/Content/ReleaseNotes/ReleaseNotes.htm
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check current Power PDF version
2. Visit Kofax support portal for latest security updates
3. Download and install the latest patch
4. Restart system to ensure patch is fully applied
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable U3D file processing
windowsConfigure Power PDF to not process U3D file formats or disable related plugins
Check Power PDF security settings for file type handling options
Application control policies
windowsImplement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized PDF applications from running
Use Windows AppLocker or similar application control solutions
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict email filtering to block PDF files with U3D content
- User training to avoid opening PDF files from untrusted sources
- Deploy endpoint protection with exploit prevention capabilities
- Isolate PDF processing to dedicated, segmented systems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Power PDF version against Kofax security advisory. Versions prior to patched release are vulnerable.Check Version:
In Power PDF: Help → About Power PDFVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Power PDF version matches or exceeds patched version specified in Kofax advisory. Test with known safe U3D files to ensure proper parsing.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes of Power PDF when processing PDF files
- Unexpected process creation from Power PDF executable
- Memory access violation errors in application logs
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from Power PDF process to suspicious IPs
- Unusual network traffic patterns following PDF file opening
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where (Image contains 'PowerPDF' OR ParentImage contains 'PowerPDF') AND CommandLine contains suspicious file patterns