CVE-2010-2201 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 (1) pushstring (0x2C) operator, (2) debugfile (0xF1) operator, and an "invalid pointer vulnerability" that triggers memory corruption, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-1285 and CVE-2010-2168.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
This vulnerability resides in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions prior to 9.3.3 for 9.x series and 8.2.3 for 8.x series on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms. The flaw manifests through crafted Flash content embedded within PDF files that exploits specific operator sequences within the Adobe Acrobat environment. The vulnerability specifically leverages the pushstring operator with hexadecimal value 0x2C and debugfile operator with hexadecimal value 0xF1 in combination with an invalid pointer vulnerability that ultimately leads to memory corruption. This represents a distinct memory corruption vulnerability separate from previously identified issues such as CVE-2010-1285 and CVE-2010-2168, indicating the complexity and multifaceted nature of the exploit chain. The technical implementation involves manipulation of the PDF parsing engine where these operators interact with memory management functions in an unpredictable manner that allows attackers to control execution flow. The invalid pointer vulnerability serves as the critical memory corruption element that enables arbitrary code execution, making this a sophisticated exploit requiring precise manipulation of the Adobe Acrobat runtime environment. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates how PDF processing engines can become attack vectors through manipulation of embedded content and operator sequences that are typically benign but become dangerous when combined in specific ways. The attack requires a user to open a malicious PDF file containing crafted Flash content, making social engineering a critical component of successful exploitation. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes, both of which are fundamental memory corruption issues. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, providing attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. This vulnerability would be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploit for privilege escalation, and T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, as the attack occurs through PDF document handling. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability specifically relates to improper handling of memory pointers and buffer operations within Adobe's PDF rendering engine. Security researchers identified this as a critical vulnerability because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user, potentially leading to full system compromise. The combination of multiple operators and the invalid pointer mechanism makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against through traditional signature-based detection methods. The exploit requires precise control over the PDF parsing sequence and memory layout to achieve successful code execution. Organizations using affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions face substantial risk as this vulnerability could be exploited in targeted attacks, phishing campaigns, or broader malware distribution efforts. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions and operating systems indicates a fundamental flaw in Adobe's PDF processing architecture that needed comprehensive remediation. The fix implemented by Adobe involved patching the PDF parsing engine to properly handle the specific operator combinations and memory pointer operations that led to the vulnerability. This vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping PDF processing software up to date and implementing additional security measures such as PDF sandboxing and content filtering to mitigate risks associated with potentially malicious PDF documents. The complexity of this vulnerability demonstrates the sophisticated nature of modern exploit development and highlights the need for robust security practices in handling untrusted document formats.