CVE-2010-2210 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 or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-1295, CVE-2010-2202, CVE-2010-2207, CVE-2010-2209, CVE-2010-2211, and CVE-2010-2212.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 9.3.3 for Windows and Mac OS X contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from several other related issues affecting the same software ecosystem during the same timeframe. The flaw manifested in the handling of specific file structures or data processing within the PDF rendering engine, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory allocation patterns and execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability exploited weaknesses in input validation and memory management routines that processed PDF objects and streams, particularly when encountering malformed or specially crafted elements within document structures. Attackers could leverage this weakness by delivering malicious PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, would trigger memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the target user's privileges. The memory corruption occurred during the parsing of PDF content, likely involving buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that allowed attackers to overwrite critical memory regions. This vulnerability directly impacted the security posture of countless users who relied on Adobe's PDF viewing software for business and personal documents, as PDF files were commonly shared through email attachments, web downloads, and document repositories. The attack surface was particularly broad since PDF documents could be encountered in numerous legitimate contexts, making exploitation both feasible and potentially widespread. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through simple document delivery without requiring complex social engineering or additional attack vectors. The impact extended beyond individual user systems to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader was widely deployed for document processing and viewing. Security researchers classified this vulnerability as a memory corruption issue that could be exploited through remote code execution, representing a serious threat to system integrity and data confidentiality. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it could be triggered through legitimate PDF document opening, requiring no special privileges or complex attack chaining. This weakness highlighted the critical importance of timely security updates and patch management for widely used software applications. Organizations needed to implement immediate remediation measures including patching affected systems, deploying application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrated how seemingly routine document processing activities could become attack vectors when underlying software contained memory safety issues. Security professionals emphasized the need for comprehensive vulnerability assessment programs that could identify and remediate such issues before they could be exploited in the wild. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability aligned with common threat actor methodologies that targeted widely used applications to maximize exploitation success rates across diverse user bases.
The technical nature of CVE-2010-2210 corresponds to CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Memory Access Range, which encompasses buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, and other memory corruption vulnerabilities. This classification indicates that the vulnerability stemmed from inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices during PDF document processing. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enabled attackers to execute malicious code on target systems through legitimate PDF viewing applications. The vulnerability's characteristics matched typical memory corruption patterns that attackers exploit to gain unauthorized access to systems, often leveraging techniques such as stack smashing or heap corruption to redirect program execution flow. The fact that this vulnerability was distinct from other related CVEs from the same period indicated that it represented a unique flaw in the PDF parsing implementation rather than a systemic issue affecting multiple components. This distinction was important for security teams to understand the specific nature of the threat and implement targeted remediation strategies. The vulnerability's exploitation required no user interaction beyond opening a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users regularly opened PDF files from untrusted sources. The memory corruption aspect meant that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise depending on the target environment and user privileges. Organizations needed to prioritize patch deployment for this vulnerability due to its potential for remote code execution and the broad attack surface it presented. The vulnerability underscored the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits targeting widely used software applications.