CVE-2011-0610 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
The CoolType library in Adobe Reader 9.x before 9.4.4 and 10.x through 10.0.1 on Windows, Adobe Reader 9.x before 9.4.4 and 10.x before 10.0.3 on Mac OS X, and Adobe Acrobat 9.x before 9.4.4 and 10.x before 10.0.3 on Windows and Mac OS X allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0610 resides within Adobe Reader's CoolType library, a critical component responsible for font rendering and text processing within the application. This flaw affects multiple versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, specifically targeting versions prior to 9.4.4 and 10.0.3 respectively. The CoolType library serves as a foundational element for handling font data, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its widespread use and the complex nature of font processing operations. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified attack vectors that leverage memory corruption issues, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to compromise affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption techniques that allow attackers to manipulate the CoolType library's handling of font data. When Adobe Reader processes malformed or specially crafted font files, the library fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to buffer overflows or other memory management errors. These memory corruption issues can result in arbitrary code execution when the application attempts to process malicious font data, or cause denial of service conditions when the system crashes or becomes unresponsive. The vulnerability's nature aligns with common software security flaws categorized under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0610 extends beyond simple system compromise, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Adobe Reader remains a widely deployed application. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face potential exposure to sophisticated attacks that could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through email attachments, web downloads, or other network-based delivery mechanisms without requiring local system access. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution, specifically targeting the use of malicious code execution techniques through compromised software components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, with particular attention to the specific version thresholds mentioned in the advisory. Adobe released security updates in versions 9.4.4 and 10.0.3 respectively, which address the underlying memory corruption issues within the CoolType library. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all endpoints receive these critical updates promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted software, configuring sandboxing environments for PDF processing, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for organizations to maintain current knowledge of software vulnerabilities through security bulletins and threat intelligence feeds.