CVE-2010-3628 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.4, and 8.x before 8.2.5 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-2010-2890, CVE-2010-3619, CVE-2010-3621, CVE-2010-3622, CVE-2010-3632, and CVE-2010-3658.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.x prior to 9.4 and 8.x prior to 8.2.5 contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat vector from several other CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a complex attack surface within Adobe's document processing engine. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential entry points within the software's parsing mechanisms for PDF files, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various user interactions with maliciously crafted documents. The memory corruption aspect implies that attackers can manipulate heap or stack memory structures during PDF processing, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as out-of-bounds read conditions, which aligns with the memory corruption characteristics described in the advisory. The attack typically occurs when users open malicious PDF files, making social engineering and user education critical components of defense strategies. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects a widely deployed software application, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise end-user systems. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation as the vulnerability can also cause denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting business operations and user productivity. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and Mac OS X environments indicates a cross-platform threat that requires comprehensive security measures across different operating systems. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files and deploy updated versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat as soon as possible. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 as Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Security professionals should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems to identify potential compromise indicators. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of heap-based buffer overflows and use-after-free conditions that have historically been primary attack vectors in software exploitation campaigns. Given the widespread deployment of Adobe Reader, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users frequently encounter PDF documents from external sources. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates and consider implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing or PDF content filtering to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution makes it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where adversaries seek persistent access to compromised systems.