CVE-2023-38087
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Kofax Power PDF allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious PDF files or visiting malicious web pages. The flaw exists in how the software handles app objects, enabling attackers to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries and gain control of the current process. All users of affected Kofax Power PDF versions are at risk.
💻 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 full control of the affected system, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or use as an initial access vector for broader network attacks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and user privilege restrictions, potentially resulting in application crash but not full system compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction but no authentication. The vulnerability is publicly disclosed through ZDI, increasing likelihood of exploitation attempts.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified in available references - check Kofax advisory for exact version
Vendor Advisory: https://www.kofax.com/security/advisories (check for specific advisory)
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check current Power PDF version
2. Visit Kofax support portal
3. Download latest version/update
4. Install update
5. Restart system
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable PDF handling in browser
windowsPrevent automatic PDF opening in web browsers to block web-based exploitation vectors
Browser-specific settings vary - disable PDF preview/auto-open features
Application sandboxing
windowsRun Power PDF in restricted environment to limit potential damage
Use Windows Sandbox or third-party application containment solutions
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to block unauthorized Power PDF execution
- Deploy network segmentation to isolate PDF processing systems from critical assets
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Power PDF version against Kofax security advisory. Versions prior to the patched release are vulnerable.Check Version:
Open Power PDF → Help → About (or check installed programs in Control Panel)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify Power PDF version matches or exceeds the patched version specified in Kofax advisory.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Power PDF crash logs with memory access violations
- Unexpected child processes spawned from Power PDF
- Network connections initiated by Power PDF process
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from Power PDF to unknown external IPs
- DNS requests for suspicious domains from PDF processing systems
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where (Image contains 'powerpdf.exe' AND ParentImage != 'explorer.exe') OR (Process contains 'powerpdf' AND CommandLine contains suspicious patterns)