CVE-2010-0202 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3.2, and 8.x before 8.2.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-0198, CVE-2010-0199, and CVE-2010-0203.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions prior to 9.3.2 and 8.2.2 respectively, affecting both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. The flaw occurs within the software's handling of malformed input data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. Unlike related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2010-0198, CVE-2010-0199, and CVE-2010-0203, this specific issue manifests through distinct attack vectors that require careful exploitation techniques to achieve successful compromise. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow exploits the improper validation of user-supplied data within Adobe's document processing libraries. When the vulnerable software encounters specially crafted PDF files containing malformed data structures, the application fails to properly enforce buffer size limitations during memory allocation operations. This deficiency allows attackers to overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious PDF documents that trigger the buffer overflow condition when the software attempts to parse or render specific elements within the document. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0202 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat vector for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploitation campaigns. Organizations utilizing affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software creates an attractive target for cybercriminals and nation-state actors seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. Security researchers have documented numerous instances where similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities have been actively exploited in the wild, making the remediation of this issue critical for maintaining organizational security postures. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Adobe Reader's widespread use in business environments for processing documents, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment to Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.3.2 and 8.2.2 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes to address the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular software updates, network segmentation, and application whitelisting policies to limit potential attack vectors. Additional defensive measures include configuring email security solutions to filter suspicious PDF attachments, implementing sandboxing technologies for document processing, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and adheres to the principle of least privilege, where users should operate with minimal necessary permissions to reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for buffer overflow attacks, particularly focusing on process injection prevention and memory protection mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.