CVE-2010-2168 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3.3, and 8.x before 8.2.3 on Windows and Mac OS X, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file with crafted Flash content, involving the newfunction (0x44) operator and an "invalid pointer vulnerability" that triggers memory corruption, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-1285 and CVE-2010-2201.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 9.3.3 and 8.2.3 respectively contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted PDF files. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of Flash content within PDF documents on both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. The flaw manifests when the PDF parser encounters a newfunction (0x44) operator combined with invalid pointer operations that lead to memory corruption conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the Flash content execution environment within the PDF rendering engine. When Adobe Reader processes a PDF containing crafted Flash content with the newfunction operator, it fails to properly validate pointer references, resulting in an invalid pointer vulnerability that can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing phase when the application attempts to execute the malicious Flash content, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite function pointers or return addresses in the call stack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user. This means that a successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, enabling attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to vulnerable systems. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Adobe Reader installations across multiple operating systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly used for document viewing. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability operates independently from other known Flash-related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2010-1285 and CVE-2010-2201, indicating a distinct code path that requires separate mitigation approaches.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, as the memory corruption results from improper pointer validation during Flash content processing. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1547.001 for registry run keys or startup folder, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1203, legitimate program execution, as it leverages Adobe Reader's legitimate functionality to execute malicious code. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to address this vulnerability and consider network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to reduce the attack surface. The remediation process requires updating to Adobe Reader versions 9.3.3 or later, or 8.2.3 or later for the 8.x series, while security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.