CVE-2011-0566 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 and Mac OS X allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted image, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0567 and CVE-2011-0603.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patched releases contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted image files. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions across Windows and Mac OS X platforms, specifically impacting Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.0.1, 9.x before 9.4.2, and 8.x before 8.2.6. The flaw manifests when the application processes specially crafted image files, leading to unpredictable memory corruption that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes. This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory structures and gain unauthorized system access. The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader remains a widely deployed document viewer. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised documents that users might encounter during routine document processing activities. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability can be exploited to bypass modern security mechanisms such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) through techniques like return-oriented programming or direct memory manipulation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction once a malicious document is opened. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which involves Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, covering Command and Scripting Interpreter techniques that attackers might employ post-exploitation. Security teams should implement network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts and establish monitoring procedures for suspicious document handling activities. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include complete system compromise, making it a critical priority for security operations teams to address through comprehensive remediation strategies including application whitelisting, sandboxing, and regular security assessments.