CVE-2024-9764 Overview
CVE-2024-9764 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Tungsten Automation Power PDF. The flaw exists in the application's PDF file parsing logic and can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user process. Exploitation requires user interaction: the target must open a crafted PDF file or visit a malicious page that delivers one. The Zero Day Initiative tracks this issue as ZDI-CAN-24480 and published it under advisory ZDI-24-1362. The underlying weakness is classified as [CWE-416] Use After Free.
Critical Impact
An attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious PDF can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Power PDF process.
Affected Products
- Tungsten Automation Power PDF
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-22 - CVE-2024-9764 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-9764
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the PDF file parsing routines of Tungsten Automation Power PDF. Parsing logic operates on an object without validating whether that object still exists in memory. When the referenced object has already been freed, the parser continues to dereference or invoke methods on the stale pointer. This use-after-free condition allows an attacker to control the contents of the reclaimed memory region and steer execution.
Exploitation requires local user interaction, but the attack payload can be delivered remotely through email attachments, drive-by downloads, or web links. Successful exploitation yields code execution with the privileges of the user running Power PDF.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing object lifetime validation in the PDF parser. The application performs operations on an object reference without first confirming that the object is still allocated. Attackers can craft a PDF that triggers premature deallocation followed by a reuse of the freed memory, satisfying the classic [CWE-416] pattern.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts a malicious PDF designed to trigger the object lifecycle mismatch. The victim must open the file in Power PDF or navigate to a page that opens it automatically. Once parsing reaches the vulnerable code path, the attacker gains control over a function pointer or virtual method dispatch and executes arbitrary code. Technical specifics are described in Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-24-1362.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9764
Indicators of Compromise
- PDF files from untrusted senders that trigger unexpected Power PDF crashes or hangs during parsing.
- Child processes spawned by Power PDF such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe.
- Outbound network connections initiated by the Power PDF process shortly after a document is opened.
- Unexpected writes to user-writable directories (%APPDATA%, %TEMP%) originating from Power PDF.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process lineage for Power PDF creating scripting interpreters or shell processes.
- Alert on Power PDF crashes with access violation exceptions in Windows Application event logs.
- Deploy YARA or content inspection at the mail gateway to identify PDFs containing malformed object streams or suspicious embedded JavaScript.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable command-line and process-creation auditing on endpoints that run Power PDF.
- Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized analytics platform to correlate document opens with subsequent process and network activity.
- Track Power PDF version inventory across managed hosts to identify unpatched installations.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9764
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all endpoints running Tungsten Automation Power PDF and prioritize them for patching.
- Instruct users not to open PDF attachments from untrusted or unverified sources.
- Restrict Power PDF from being the default handler for PDF files received through email or the browser until systems are updated.
Patch Information
Refer to Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-24-1362 for vendor remediation guidance. Apply the latest Tungsten Automation Power PDF update that addresses the object validation flaw in the PDF parser as soon as it is available in your environment.
Workarounds
- Open untrusted PDFs in a sandboxed viewer or browser-based renderer instead of Power PDF.
- Apply application control policies to block Power PDF from launching child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, and wscript.exe.
- Enforce attachment filtering at the email gateway to strip or quarantine PDFs from external senders pending review.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
