CVE-2018-11797: Apache PDFBox - Extremely Long Running Computation
Summary
CVE-2018-11797: In Apache PDFBox a carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an extremely long running computation. Affects org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox across 2 version ranges.
>= 1.8.0, < 1.8.16
>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.12
Fixed in 1.8.16 or 2.0.12, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- libpdfbox-java · Debian:11
The same CVE-2018-11797 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Apache PDFBox is an open-source Java library for working with PDF documents. It provides functionality for creating, manipulating, and extracting data from PDF files. The library is widely used in various applications and frameworks that deal with PDF documents. However, versions 1.8.0 to 1.8.15 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.11 of Apache PDFBox are vulnerable to an issue that can trigger an extremely long running computation when parsing the page tree of a carefully crafted PDF file.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in Apache PDFBox arises from a flaw in the parsing of the page tree in PDF files. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker can create a PDF file with specific characteristics that cause the parsing process to enter an infinite loop or take an exceptionally long time to complete. This can lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions, where the application using Apache PDFBox becomes unresponsive or consumes excessive computational resources. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.5, indicating a moderate severity level.
How To Fix
Fixed versions by release line
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
>= 1.8.0, < 1.8.161.8.16 -
>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.122.0.12
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
As a workaround, if upgrading to a fixed version is not immediately feasible, it is recommended to exercise caution when processing PDF files using Apache PDFBox. Avoid opening or parsing PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources. Additionally, consider implementing file size and processing time limits to prevent excessive resource consumption in case of a malicious PDF file.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in Apache PDFBox can be mitigated by upgrading to the fixed versions mentioned above. It is important to promptly address this vulnerability to prevent potential denial of service conditions and ensure the secure processing of PDF files. For further assistance or support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox →
FAQ
Apache PDFBox is a Java library for working with PDF documents. It provides functionality for creating, manipulating, and extracting data from PDF files.
Versions 1.8.0 to 1.8.15 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.11 of Apache PDFBox are affected by this vulnerability.
This vulnerability can lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions, where the application using Apache PDFBox becomes unresponsive or consumes excessive computational resources.
To fix this vulnerability, upgrade to a fixed version of Apache PDFBox. For versions 1.8.0 to 1.8.15, upgrade to version 1.8.16 or later. For versions 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.11, upgrade to version 2.0.12 or later.
As a workaround, exercise caution when processing PDF files using Apache PDFBox. Avoid opening or parsing PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources. Implement file size and processing time limits to prevent excessive resource consumption.
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