CVE-2007-6021 in PageMaker
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe PageMaker 7.0.1 and 7.0.2 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .PMD file with a crafted font structure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
Adobe PageMaker 7.0.1 and 7.0.2 contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the document processing engine. This vulnerability exists within the font handling mechanism of the application, specifically when processing .PMD files that contain maliciously crafted font structures. The flaw occurs during the parsing of font data where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to overflow allocated heap memory buffers, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote exploitation, meaning that a user must open a specially crafted .PMD file for the attack to succeed, but the remote aspect indicates that the malicious file can be delivered through various network channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management during font structure parsing. When PageMaker processes a .PMD file, it allocates heap memory for font data structures but fails to validate the size of incoming font information against allocated buffer boundaries. This heap-based buffer overflow allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling code injection attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient validation of buffer sizes leads to memory corruption. The attack vector requires the victim to open a malicious file, making it a classic example of a social engineering component in exploit delivery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the victim's system context. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability affects users who frequently work with .PMD files or receive documents from untrusted sources, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where document sharing is common. Security researchers have documented similar patterns in Adobe products where font processing components have historically been attack surfaces due to the complex nature of font formats and their parsing requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Adobe PageMaker versions to the latest security updates provided by Adobe. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies and restrict opening of .PMD files from untrusted sources. Network-based security controls such as email filtering and web proxies can help prevent delivery of malicious .PMD files. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which covers exploitation for execution, and T1068, which addresses exploit development for privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable applications and monitor for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.