CVE-2008-2641 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.0.9 and earlier, and 8.0 through 8.1.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, related to an "input validation issue in a JavaScript method."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2025
This vulnerability resides within Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions 7.0.9 and earlier, as well as versions 8.0 through 8.1.2, representing a critical input validation flaw in JavaScript execution contexts. The issue stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within JavaScript methods, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The unspecified nature of the exact exploit mechanisms suggests that multiple attack surfaces within the JavaScript engine were affected, potentially encompassing memory corruption scenarios that could lead to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation, and represents a classic example of a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that can be triggered through malformed input within PDF documents.
The technical impact of this vulnerability manifests through the exploitation of JavaScript method handlers that fail to properly validate input parameters before processing. When maliciously crafted PDF documents are opened, the JavaScript engine attempts to parse and execute code that contains malformed input structures, leading to unpredictable behavior in the application memory management. The vulnerability can result in application crashes during normal operation or potentially allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the running Adobe application. This represents a severe security risk as it can be triggered remotely through web-based attacks, email attachments, or any method that delivers a malicious PDF file to an unpatched system. The exploitability characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through various attack vectors including document-based attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely on Adobe Reader for document viewing and processing, particularly in environments where users receive PDF files from external sources or untrusted networks. The remote attack surface means that simply opening a malicious PDF file can compromise systems without requiring user interaction beyond normal document opening procedures. The potential for arbitrary code execution makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware. Organizations with outdated Adobe installations face immediate risk as these versions are no longer supported with security updates, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by threat actors who may have developed specific exploits for this flaw. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software up to date and implementing defense-in-depth strategies including email filtering, web application firewalls, and user education to mitigate risks from such zero-day exploits.