CVE-2023-38093
📋 TL;DR
This is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Kofax Power PDF's saveAs method that allows remote code execution when users open malicious PDF files or visit malicious web pages. Attackers can exploit this to run arbitrary code with the same privileges as the PDF application user. All users of affected Kofax Power PDF versions are vulnerable.
💻 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 malware, or persistence mechanisms on the compromised system.
If Mitigated
Application crash or denial of service if exploit fails, with potential for limited data exposure depending on system configuration.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction but is technically straightforward once a malicious PDF is crafted. The vulnerability was discovered by Zero Day Initiative (ZDI-CAN-20604).
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified in available references - check Kofax advisory for specific version
Vendor Advisory: https://www.kofax.com/security/advisories (check for specific advisory)
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check current Kofax Power PDF version
2. Visit Kofax security advisory page
3. Download and install the latest security update
4. Restart the system to ensure patch is fully applied
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable PDF file opening in Kofax Power PDF
windowsChange default PDF handler to alternative PDF reader that is not vulnerable
Windows: Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Default Programs > Choose alternative PDF reader
Application Control Policy
windowsBlock execution of Kofax Power PDF via application whitelisting
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network segmentation to isolate systems running vulnerable software
- Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect exploitation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Kofax Power PDF version against patched version in vendor advisoryCheck Version:
Open Kofax Power PDF > Help > About (or check installed programs in Control Panel)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify version number after update matches or exceeds patched version specified by vendor📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes of Kofax Power PDF
- Unusual process creation from PDF reader
- Memory access violations in application logs
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of PDF files from suspicious sources
- Outbound connections from PDF application to unknown IPs
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where ParentImage contains 'powerpdf' OR Image contains 'powerpdf' AND CommandLine contains unusual parameters