CVE-2011-0586 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 do not properly validate unspecified input data, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to the mentioned patches contain a critical vulnerability in their input validation mechanisms that enables remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows and Mac OS X platforms. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of unspecified input data which creates opportunities for malicious actors to craft specially crafted payloads that can be processed by the affected software. The vulnerability exists within the core processing logic of the application where input data is not adequately sanitized before being interpreted or executed. Attackers can exploit this weakness through various attack vectors that remain unspecified in the CVE description but typically involve malformed documents or embedded objects that trigger the vulnerable code path. The impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the affected software, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation" in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This classification indicates that the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with buffer overflow conditions or memory corruption issues that can occur when input data exceeds expected boundaries or contains unexpected sequences that cause the application to behave unpredictably. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple exploitation techniques may be possible, including but not limited to malformed PDF files, embedded scripts, or specially crafted objects within document structures. Such vulnerabilities often fall within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" and represents how adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it represents a critical security gap that can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction or specialized knowledge of the target system. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The vulnerability affects a widely used software application that is installed on countless endpoints, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise environments. System administrators must consider the broad attack surface this vulnerability creates, as it can be exploited through various delivery mechanisms including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The affected versions span multiple major releases, indicating a prolonged period during which the vulnerability remained unpatched and potentially exploitable in production environments. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment and implement additional security controls such as email filtering, web application firewalls, and endpoint protection measures to reduce the risk of exploitation while awaiting full remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches for Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 10.0.1, 9.4.2, and 8.2.6 respectively. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious content and monitor for suspicious activity related to PDF processing. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, disabling unnecessary PDF features, and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the software ecosystem. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software installations and following security best practices for software lifecycle management. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users identify potentially malicious PDF files and avoid opening suspicious attachments or visiting untrusted websites that may host exploit content. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure compatibility with existing business processes and avoid unintended service disruptions.