CVE-2011-2101 in Acrobat
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x before 8.3, 9.x before 9.4.5, and 10.x before 10.1 on Windows and Mac OS X do not properly restrict script, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted document, related to a "cross document script execution vulnerability."
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2018
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 8.x prior to 8.3, 9.x prior to 9.4.5, and 10.x prior to 10.1 contain a critical cross-document script execution vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the security boundaries of the application. This vulnerability resides in the document processing engine's handling of script execution contexts, specifically when processing maliciously crafted PDF documents that contain embedded JavaScript or ActionScript code. The flaw allows an attacker to bypass the normal security restrictions that prevent scripts from executing across different documents, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of script execution contexts when documents are loaded or interacted with within the Adobe Reader environment. When a malicious PDF document is opened, the application fails to properly isolate script execution between the malicious document and the host system, enabling scripts to access and manipulate system resources beyond their intended scope. This cross-document script execution occurs through improper handling of inter-document communication mechanisms, where document-level scripts can inadvertently gain access to system-level operations or other loaded documents. The vulnerability manifests when the PDF parser encounters specific script constructs that trigger the improper context switching, allowing malicious code to execute with the privileges of the currently running Adobe application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious document. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks where social engineering is minimized. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, establish backdoors, or perform privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability affects multiple versions across both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, creating a wide attack surface that makes it particularly attractive to threat actors. Additionally, since Adobe Reader is widely deployed across enterprise environments, successful exploitation can lead to widespread compromise of organizational networks, making this vulnerability a significant concern for security professionals.
Organizations should immediately apply the security patches released by Adobe for the affected versions, which include enhanced script execution context validation and improved document isolation mechanisms. System administrators should implement additional protective measures such as restricting Adobe Reader's capabilities through sandboxing, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious document loading activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-749, which describes "Expose of Functionality to Unintended Users", and represents a classic example of improper access control in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and T1548.002 for "Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Bypass User Account Control", as attackers can leverage the arbitrary code execution to gain elevated privileges and bypass system security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for PDF-related network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential weaknesses in their document processing environments.