Apache PDFBox Infinite Loop Vulnerability (CVE-2018-8036)
Summary
CVE-2018-8036: In Apache PDFBox 1.8.0 to 1.8.14 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.10, a carefully crafted (or fuzzed) file can trigger an infinite loop which leads to an out of memory exception in Apache PDFBox's AFMParser. Affects libpdfbox-java versions < 1:1.8.15-1. Fixed in 1:1.8.15-1. How to fix ↓
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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 content from PDF files. The library is widely used in various applications and frameworks that require PDF processing capabilities. However, versions 1.8.0 to 1.8.14 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.10 of Apache PDFBox are vulnerable to an infinite loop issue in the AFMParser component.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2018-8036) arises when a specially crafted or fuzzed file triggers an infinite loop in the AFMParser of Apache PDFBox. This loop continues indefinitely, leading to an out of memory exception. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by providing a malicious PDF file to an application that uses the affected versions of Apache PDFBox. The consequences of this vulnerability include denial of service (DoS) attacks and potential system instability due to memory exhaustion.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1:1.8.15-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade libpdfbox-javaTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is essential to apply the recommended fix by upgrading to the patched versions of Apache PDFBox.
Conclusion
The Apache PDFBox Infinite Loop Vulnerability (CVE-2018-8036) is a critical issue that can lead to denial of service attacks and system instability. It is crucial for users of Apache PDFBox to upgrade to the patched versions to mitigate the risk. For further support and assistance with vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
Apache PDFBox is an open-source Java library for working with PDF documents. It provides functionality for creating, manipulating, and extracting content from PDF files.
The vulnerability can be exploited to trigger an infinite loop, leading to an out of memory exception. This can result in denial of service (DoS) attacks and potential system instability.
Versions 1.8.0 to 1.8.14 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.10 of Apache PDFBox are affected by this vulnerability.
To fix the vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to Apache PDFBox version 1.8.15 or later for the 1.x branch, and version 2.0.11 or later for the 2.x branch.
No, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is crucial to apply the recommended fix by upgrading to the patched versions of Apache PDFBox.
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