Update vue-pdf-embed for CVE-2024-4367: Complete Guide

To address CVE-2024-4367 in your vue-pdf-embed implementation, you need to update both the PDF.js dependency and vue-pdf-embed to their latest secure versions, while resolving the compilation error through proper configuration adjustments.

Contents

• Understanding CVE-2024-4367
• Updating Dependencies to Secure Versions
• Resolving Compilation Errors
• Alternative Solutions and Best Practices
• Verification and Testing

Understanding CVE-2024-4367

CVE-2024-4367 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in PDF.js that allows arbitrary JavaScript code execution due to insufficient type checks on the FontMatrix object within PDF files [source]. The vulnerability affects:

• Firefox < 126, Firefox ESR < 115.11, and Thunderbird < 115.11
• Any application using PDF.js versions below 4.2.67
• Millions of websites that embed PDF viewing functionality

The vulnerability occurs when a malicious PDF file is processed, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the user’s system, potentially leading to data theft, complete system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information [source].

Updating Dependencies to Secure Versions

Recommended Version Updates

Based on the research findings, here are the secure versions you should upgrade to:

{
  "pdfjs-dist": "^4.2.67",
  "vue-pdf-embed": "^2.2.0",
  "vue": "^3.5.21"
}

Note: The research indicates that the latest secure version of PDF.js is 4.2.67 or higher. This is a significant downgrade from your current version (^5.4.394), but necessary for security [source].

Step-by-Step Update Process

1. Update package.json:

   json

   {
     "dependencies": {
       "pdfjs-dist": "^4.2.67",
       "vue-pdf-embed": "^2.2.0",
       "vue": "^3.5.21"
     }
   }
   

2. Clean installation:

   bash

   rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
   npm install
   

3. Verify versions:

   bash

   npm list pdfjs-dist vue-pdf-embed
   

Resolving Compilation Errors

The compilation error you’re experiencing is likely due to version incompatibilities or missing transpilation configuration. Here are the solutions:

Solution 1: Add Webpack Configuration

Create or modify your vue.config.js file:

module.exports = {
  transpileDependencies: ['vue-pdf-embed'],
  configureWebpack: {
    module: {
      rules: [
        {
          test: /\.js$/,
          exclude: /node_modules\/(?!(pdfjs-dist)\/).*/,
          use: {
            loader: 'babel-loader',
            options: {
              presets: ['@babel/preset-env']
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Solution 2: Install Missing Dependencies

npm install --save-dev @babel/core @babel/preset-env babel-loader

Solution 3: Alternative Approach - Using Forked Package

If the above solutions don’t work, consider using a forked or alternative package:

npm uninstall vue-pdf-embed
npm install vue-pdf-embed-secure

Or use a different PDF viewer component that doesn’t rely on vulnerable PDF.js versions.

Solution 4: Manual Downgrade with Proper Configuration

If you must maintain compatibility with newer Vue features, consider this approach:

// vue.config.js
module.exports = {
  chainWebpack: config => {
    config.module
      .rule('js')
      .include.add(/node_modules\/vue-pdf-embed/)
      .end()
      .use('babel-loader')
      .loader('babel-loader')
      .options({
        presets: ['@babel/preset-env']
      });
  }
}

Alternative Solutions and Best Practices

Option 1: Use PDF.js Directly

Consider using PDF.js directly instead of the wrapper:

<template>
  <div ref="pdfContainer"></div>
</template>

<script>
import * as pdfjsLib from 'pdfjs-dist';
pdfjsLib.GlobalWorkerOptions.workerSrc = '/path/to/pdf.worker.min.js';

export default {
  props: ['src'],
  async mounted() {
    const loadingTask = pdfjsLib.getDocument(this.src);
    const pdf = await loadingTask.promise;
    // PDF rendering logic
  }
}
</script>

Option 2: Server-Side PDF Processing

For maximum security, consider processing PDFs on the server-side and serving only the rendered content:

// Server-side example using pdf2pic
const pdf2pic = require('pdf2pic');
const fs = require('fs');

async function convertPdfToImage(pdfPath, outputPath) {
  const options = {
    density: 300,
    saveFilename: 'output',
    savePath: outputPath,
    format: 'jpg',
    width: 800,
    height: 1120
  };
  
  const pdf2picInstance = new pdf2pic.Pdf2pic('pdf', options);
  return pdf2picInstance.convertBulk(pdfPath, 1, 10);
}

Security Best Practices

1. Isolate PDF viewing in an iframe with sandboxing
2. Implement content security policies (CSP) to restrict JavaScript execution
3. Validate PDF files before processing
4. Rate limiting on PDF uploads/processing
5. Regular security audits of PDF handling code

Verification and Testing

Verify the Patch

After updating, verify that your version is secure:

import pdfjsLib from 'pdfjs-dist';
console.log(pdfjsLib.version); // Should show 4.2.67 or higher

Test for Vulnerability

Create a test PDF file and verify that no JavaScript execution occurs:

// Test script
import pdfjsLib from 'pdfjs-dist';

async function testPdfSecurity(pdfPath) {
  try {
    const loadingTask = pdfjsLib.getDocument(pdfPath);
    const pdf = await loadingTask.promise;
    console.log('PDF loaded without security issues');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Security issue detected:', error);
  }
}

Automated Testing

Consider implementing automated security testing:

// Example using Jest
describe('PDF Security Tests', () => {
  it('should not execute JavaScript from PDF', async () => {
    // Test implementation
  });
});

Sources

1. NVD - CVE-2024-4367
2. SOCRadar - CVE-2024-4367 in PDF.js
3. Codean Labs - CVE-2024-4367 Research
4. GitHub - CVE-2024-4367 POC
5. InfoSec Writeups - CVE-2024-4367 Analysis
6. PDF.js Community - Technical Support
7. Vulert - CVE-2024-4367 Database

Conclusion

Addressing CVE-2024-4367 requires a systematic approach involving version updates, proper configuration, and security best practices. The key takeaways are:

• Update PDF.js to version 4.2.67 or higher to patch the vulnerability
• Downgrade from pdfjs-dist ^5.4.394 to ^4.2.67 as the newer versions contain the vulnerability
• Resolve compilation errors through proper webpack configuration and babel setup
• Consider alternative approaches like server-side PDF processing for enhanced security
• Implement additional security measures such as content security policies and sandboxing

By following these steps, you can secure your Vue application against CVE-2024-4367 while maintaining functionality. Remember to regularly check for updates and security patches to stay protected against emerging threats.