CVE-2004-1598 in Acrobat
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader 6.0 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a PDF file that contains an embedded Shockwave (swf) file that references files outside of the temporary directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader version 6.0 where the software fails to properly validate file paths when processing embedded Shockwave Flash (swf) files within PDF documents. The flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious PDF files that contain embedded swf content which can reference and attempt to read files from locations outside the intended temporary directory boundaries. When the PDF viewer processes such a document, it executes the embedded swf content which then attempts to access files on the local system through improper path validation mechanisms. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability where the application does not adequately sanitize input paths, allowing unauthorized file access. The issue falls under CWE-22 Path Traversal and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive files on the victim's system without proper authorization. An attacker could craft a malicious PDF document that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, would attempt to read system configuration files, user documents, or other sensitive data from locations outside the intended security boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust users place in PDF documents and the automatic execution capabilities of embedded multimedia content. This attack vector could be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or any other means of delivering malicious PDF content to target systems.
The technical exploitation requires an attacker to create a PDF file containing an embedded swf object that references external file paths using relative or absolute paths that bypass the intended security restrictions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path sanitization within the PDF processing engine's handling of embedded content. When the Acrobat application attempts to load and execute the swf file, it fails to properly isolate the execution environment, allowing the swf content to access files outside the designated temporary directory. This behavior violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates insufficient sandboxing mechanisms for embedded content processing.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions, as well as implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious PDF content. Organizations should consider disabling automatic execution of embedded content and implementing strict file access controls for temporary directories. The use of web application firewalls and content inspection tools can help detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end users. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted PDF documents remains crucial in preventing successful exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security updates and proper configuration management are essential to maintaining protection against similar path traversal vulnerabilities in document processing software.