CVE-2009-0198 in Acrobat
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the JBIG2 filter in Adobe Reader 7 and Acrobat 7 before 7.1.3, Adobe Reader 8 and Acrobat 8 before 8.1.6, and Adobe Reader 9 and Acrobat 9 before 9.1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file that contains JBIG2 text region segments with Huffman encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0198 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within Adobe Reader and Acrobat's handling of JBIG2 compressed image data. This flaw affects multiple versions of Adobe's PDF viewing and editing software, specifically targeting the JBIG2 filter implementation that processes text region segments using Huffman encoding. The vulnerability exists in the memory management routines responsible for decompressing JBIG2 data, creating an exploitable condition where maliciously crafted PDF files can trigger memory corruption during the decompression process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the JBIG2 decoder component. When processing JBIG2 text region segments with Huffman encoding, the software fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before attempting to allocate memory buffers on the heap. This oversight allows attackers to craft PDF files containing malformed JBIG2 data that, when processed by vulnerable software, causes the heap memory allocator to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory corruption and code execution, where the overflow can potentially overwrite adjacent memory regions including function pointers or return addresses, enabling arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness by delivering malicious PDF files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. Once opened by a victim using vulnerable software, the malicious PDF triggers the buffer overflow condition during document rendering, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Adobe products including Reader 7, Acrobat 7, Reader 8, Acrobat 8, and Reader 9, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread adoption of these software versions in enterprise and consumer environments.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a user to interact with a malicious PDF file, making social engineering a critical component of successful attacks. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to remediate this vulnerability, as the window for exploitation remains significant given the long support cycles of these Adobe products. The recommended mitigation strategy includes deploying Adobe's security patches and implementing additional controls such as PDF sandboxing, content filtering, and user education to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts.