CVE-2011-0564 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.0.1, 9.x before 9.4.2, and 8.x before 8.2.6 on Windows use weak permissions for unspecified files, which allows attackers to gain privileges via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patched releases contain a privilege escalation vulnerability stemming from weak file permissions within the software installation directory. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions including 10.x before 10.0.1, 9.x before 9.4.2, and 8.x before 8.2.6 on Windows operating systems. The flaw resides in the improper permission settings assigned to certain files within the application's file structure, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking elevated system privileges. The unspecified nature of the affected files suggests that multiple components within the software may be vulnerable, though the exact scope requires detailed forensic analysis of the affected installation directories. This weakness allows attackers to potentially modify critical application files or inject malicious code that could execute with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing standard user access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves an attacker identifying files within the Adobe Reader or Acrobat installation path that have overly permissive access controls. These weak permissions may allow a standard user account to write to or modify files that should normally be protected from unauthorized modification. The attack surface expands when considering that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are frequently installed with default configurations that may not properly enforce security boundaries. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges from standard user level to administrator or system level access, depending on the specific file permissions and the underlying operating system security model. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and represents a classic privilege escalation vector through improper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to achieve persistent access to compromised systems. Once elevated privileges are obtained, attackers can manipulate the Adobe application to maintain access, install additional malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The widespread use of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across enterprise environments makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as a single compromised system could provide attackers with access to critical business documents and potentially serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration. Organizations relying on these applications for document processing face significant risk, especially when users have standard account privileges but the applications are installed with weak file permissions. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks, as attackers can use the elevated privileges to access other systems or resources that may be protected by less restrictive access controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to the latest secure versions. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of the software and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Security configuration reviews should include verification of file permissions for Adobe installation directories, ensuring that only authorized users or processes have write access to critical application components. System administrators should implement least privilege principles for Adobe application usage, limiting user accounts to standard privileges where possible. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software installation security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which addresses local privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for weak file permissions across all installed applications, as this represents a common attack vector that can be easily remediated through proper configuration management and timely patch deployment.