PDF Injection
PDF Injection Overview: PDF injection vulnerabilities in web applications occur when user input is unsanitized, potentially allowing malicious content like JavaScript to be embedded in generated PDFs.
Testing Approach: Pentesters identify PDF generation points, inject payloads, and analyze outputs to detect vulnerabilities, often using tools to inspect PDF structures.
Broader Context: The provided images show related web pentesting findings (e.g., XSS, SSRF), suggesting a comprehensive security assessment alongside PDF injection tests.
Uncertainty: The images do not directly depict PDF injection, so their role is assumed to illustrate other vulnerabilities found during the same pentest.
Mitigation Importance: Addressing PDF injection requires input validation and secure PDF generation to prevent data theft or unauthorized actions.
What is PDF Injection?
PDF injection vulnerabilities arise when web applications generate PDF files using user-supplied data without proper sanitization. Attackers can exploit this to inject malicious content, such as JavaScript, into PDFs, which may execute when the file is opened, potentially leading to data exfiltration or other harmful actions. This vulnerability is often underrated but was listed among the top web application hacking techniques in 2020.
How is it Tested?
In web pentesting, testers identify features where user input contributes to PDF generation, such as forms or file uploads. They then inject payloads, like /JS (alert('XSS')), to check if malicious code is embedded in the PDF. Tools like PDF viewers or libraries (e.g., pdfminer) help analyze the PDF’s structure. Testers also look for related issues, such as Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), which may compound the impact of PDF injection.
Relation to Provided Images
The 3 images you provided appear to be from a web pentest but do not directly show PDF injection. Instead, they depict other vulnerabilities:
Image 1: A successful XSS attack with a prompt dialog.
Image 2 : JavaScript attempting to read /etc/passwd, indicating a local file inclusion (LFI/LFD) test.
sometime you can not see output doesn't show , so you can to downlod pdf
Images 3 and 5: Iframes pointing to local servers, suggesting SSRF or misconfiguration tests.
so try other port
These findings suggest a thorough pentest where PDF injection was likely tested alongside other vulnerabilities, though specific evidence of PDF injection is not visible in the images.
Why It Matters
PDF injection can compromise sensitive data, as PDFs are widely trusted and shared. By understanding and testing for this vulnerability, organizations can prevent attackers from exploiting PDFs to steal information or harm users. The images highlight the importance of a holistic pentesting approach to uncover all potential security flaws.
Additional Resources
These resources provide insights into PDF vulnerabilities and methods for testing and securing PDF files in organizational environments.
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