CVE-2010-2211 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-2010-2210, 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 contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related issues discovered in the same timeframe, including CVE-2010-1295, CVE-2010-2202, CVE-2010-2207, CVE-2010-2209, CVE-2010-2210, and CVE-2010-2212, indicating that multiple memory corruption issues existed within the same software family. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed or specially crafted PDF files that are processed by the affected Adobe applications, where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption during document parsing operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can result in memory corruption. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious PDF documents that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption scenarios when the vulnerable Adobe Reader or Acrobat application attempts to parse the document content. The memory corruption typically occurs in the application's handling of specific PDF objects or streams, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through email attachments or web downloads, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2211 is severe and affects organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing, particularly in environments where users frequently open PDF files from untrusted sources. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, as attackers can execute malicious code with the same privileges as the legitimate user, potentially leading to data theft, system infiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to enterprise networks where users may inadvertently open compromised documents, creating potential lateral movement opportunities for attackers. Organizations with legacy systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face particular exposure, as these applications are commonly used for business-critical document sharing and processing.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary mitigation strategy involves updating to Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.3.3 or 8.2.3, which contain patches addressing the memory corruption issues. Additionally, network administrators should implement PDF file filtering at network perimeters, blocking or scanning PDF attachments before they reach end users. User education regarding the risks of opening untrusted PDF files and implementing application whitelisting policies can further reduce exposure. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability through anomalous PDF parsing behavior. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious payloads and establish persistence within compromised systems.