CVE-2005-0035 in Acrobat
Summary
by MITRE
The Acrobat web control in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader 7.0 and earlier, when used with Internet Explorer, allows remote attackers to determine the existence of arbitrary files via the LoadFile ActiveX method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0035 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader versions 7.0 and earlier when integrated with Internet Explorer browsers. This issue specifically affects the Acrobat web control component that enables ActiveX functionality within web environments, creating a dangerous attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized knowledge about file system structures. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the LoadFile ActiveX method, which fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied file paths before attempting file operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the LoadFile ActiveX method, which is designed to load PDF documents into the Acrobat viewer. When attackers craft malicious web pages that invoke this method with crafted file paths, they can observe different error messages depending on whether target files exist on the victim's system. This differential response allows malicious actors to perform reconnaissance activities, mapping out the file system structure of compromised machines without direct access to the files themselves. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely within the browser context, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform reconnaissance attacks that can significantly aid more sophisticated exploitation attempts. Security professionals should recognize this as a reconnaissance primitive that can be used to identify sensitive files, system directories, or even determine the presence of specific software installations on target systems. The impact extends beyond simple information gathering, as it can provide attackers with crucial intelligence for planning subsequent attacks, including potential privilege escalation or lateral movement within compromised networks. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under reconnaissance techniques, specifically targeting the enumeration of system resources and potential attack vectors.
The security implications of CVE-2005-0035 are particularly severe given that it affects widely deployed software components and operates through standard web browsing mechanisms. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat or Reader are at risk of having their file system structures exposed to remote attackers, potentially revealing sensitive information about system configurations, installed software, or even user-specific files. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-200 indicates that it represents an information exposure weakness where the system inadvertently reveals information about its internal state or configuration. This type of vulnerability is especially concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users access the same systems and where the exposure of file system information could lead to targeted attacks against specific user accounts or system components. The lack of proper input validation in the ActiveX method creates a fundamental security gap that allows for automated reconnaissance tools to systematically map target systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, or implementing strict browser security policies that prevent ActiveX execution in untrusted contexts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the potential risks associated with legacy ActiveX controls in modern web environments.