CVE-2009-0889 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 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-0510, CVE-2009-0511, CVE-2009-0512, and CVE-2009-0888.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2018
This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the JBIG2 filter implementation of Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions prior to specific patch releases. The vulnerability manifests when processing maliciously crafted JBIG2 encoded images, which are commonly used in PDF documents for image compression and storage. The flaw occurs in the heap memory management during decompression of JBIG2 data structures, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This particular vulnerability differs from other JBIG2-related issues such as CVE-2009-0510 through CVE-2009-0888, indicating a distinct code path or implementation flaw within the JBIG2 decoding routine. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which represents a critical class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PDF document containing specially formatted JBIG2 compressed image data that triggers the buffer overflow condition. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat attempts to render such a document, the JBIG2 decoder fails to properly validate input data lengths against allocated buffer sizes, allowing memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. The attack vector is remote, meaning users can be compromised simply by opening a malicious PDF file, making this particularly dangerous for email attachments, web downloads, or document sharing platforms. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across enterprise and consumer environments, where these applications serve as primary PDF viewers and editors.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe's PDF software for document processing and sharing. The exploitability of the vulnerability means that even unsuspecting users can be compromised through legitimate PDF documents, as the malicious code execution occurs during normal document rendering operations. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, spanning from version 7 through 9, indicating a long-standing flaw in the software's handling of JBIG2 encoded data. This affects both desktop and enterprise deployments where PDF processing is a common requirement, potentially allowing attackers to gain full system control, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling malicious code execution through document processing.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor patches released for Adobe Reader 7.1.3, Acrobat 8.1.6, and Acrobat 9.1.2, which address the specific heap overflow conditions in the JBIG2 filter. System administrators should consider implementing PDF content filtering solutions that can identify and block potentially malicious JBIG2 encoded content, particularly in environments where users frequently process external documents. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content inspection systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening PDF documents from untrusted sources remains crucial, as social engineering attacks often leverage these vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular software updates and security patch management processes, as well as the need for comprehensive vulnerability assessment procedures to identify and remediate similar memory corruption issues in other third-party applications.