CVE-2005-1625 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the UnixAppOpenFilePerform function in Adobe Reader 5.0.9 and 5.0.10 for Unix allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF document with a long /Filespec tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1625 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting Adobe Reader 5.0.9 and 5.0.10 on Unix operating systems. This flaw resides within the UnixAppOpenFilePerform function, which processes file operations within the PDF viewer. The vulnerability manifests when a malicious PDF document contains an excessively long /Filespec tag, triggering memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application.
From a technical perspective, this buffer overflow occurs due to inadequate input validation within the PDF parsing routine. The /Filespec tag in PDF documents is designed to specify file paths and associated metadata, but the UnixAppOpenFilePerform function fails to properly bounds-check the length of this tag before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic programming error allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting the return address and function pointers necessary for proper program execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through malicious PDF files delivered via email, web downloads, or other network-based attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1625 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant compromise of system security. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain full control over systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and persistent backdoor access. The Unix environment adds additional complexity since the vulnerability affects a widely-used PDF viewer that many users trust for document handling, making successful exploitation likely to result in widespread compromise. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
Organizations and security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack frameworks such as the MITRE ATT&CK matrix, where it would be classified under techniques related to remote code execution and privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation typically follows the pattern of initial access through malicious PDF delivery followed by privilege escalation to gain system-level control. Given the age of this vulnerability, it serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies including email filtering, web application firewalls, and sandboxing technologies to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1625 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader installations to version 5.0.11 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow. System administrators should also implement network-based controls such as PDF file content filtering to prevent potentially malicious documents from reaching end users. Additional protective measures include disabling PDF viewing capabilities in web browsers, implementing sandboxing technologies, and establishing robust patch management procedures to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and bounds checking in security-critical applications, particularly those handling untrusted data from external sources.