CVE-2006-6236 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader) 7.0 through 7.0.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long argument string to the (1) src, (2) setPageMode, (3) setLayoutMode, and (4) setNamedDest methods in an AcroPDF ActiveX control, a different set of vectors than CVE-2006-6027.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
Adobe Reader versions 7.0 through 7.0.8 contain a critical buffer overflow vulnerability in the AcroPDF ActiveX control that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service through malformed argument strings. This vulnerability specifically affects four methods: src, setPageMode, setLayoutMode, and setNamedDest, which are part of the ActiveX control interface. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when processing argument strings passed to these methods, creating opportunities for attackers to overflow fixed-size buffers in memory. The vulnerability represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario that can be exploited by crafting malicious argument strings that exceed the allocated buffer space, potentially leading to code execution at the privilege level of the affected application. This issue falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack vector requires remote code execution through web-based exploitation where an attacker can embed malicious ActiveX calls in web pages that load within the vulnerable Adobe Reader application. When a user visits such a malicious webpage, the ActiveX control processes the oversized argument strings, triggering the buffer overflow condition that can be leveraged to inject and execute malicious code. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to full system compromise when successful exploitation occurs, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly used. The vulnerability demonstrates poor software security practices in input validation and memory management, as the ActiveX control does not properly sanitize or limit the length of arguments passed to these methods. This weakness creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the application through memory corruption techniques, potentially leading to privilege escalation and persistent access. Organizations should note that this vulnerability affects a specific version range and requires immediate patching to prevent exploitation. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it can be triggered through web browsers without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly effective in phishing campaigns and drive-by download attacks. The vulnerability's classification under the broader category of ActiveX control exploitation highlights the inherent security risks associated with legacy ActiveX technologies and their continued use in enterprise environments. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability alongside other similar issues in Adobe products and implement comprehensive patch management strategies to protect against related attacks. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the dangers of legacy code that may not adhere to modern security standards and practices.