CVE-2011-2433 in Acrobat
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x before 8.3.1, 9.x before 9.4.6, and 10.x before 10.1.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-2434 and CVE-2011-2437.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions prior to specific patches, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution. The vulnerability affects multiple product lines including version 8.x before 8.3.1, 9.x before 9.4.6, and 10.x before 10.1.1, demonstrating the widespread nature of this flaw across Adobe's document processing applications. The technical implementation involves improper memory handling during the processing of malformed input data, specifically within the heap memory allocation mechanisms. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory layout through crafted input files, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer allocated on the heap than the buffer can accommodate, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation or denial of service, as it enables full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can craft specially designed pdf documents that trigger the buffer overflow when processed by vulnerable Adobe Reader or Acrobat versions, allowing them to execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user. This vulnerability presents significant risk in enterprise environments where users frequently open pdf documents from untrusted sources, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks against organizations. The exploitation requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation for execution through document processing applications. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation using techniques such as return-oriented programming or other advanced exploit mitigation bypasses.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to mitigate this vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation remains high given the widespread use of these applications. The patching process should include verification of the installed version against the official Adobe security bulletins to ensure complete remediation. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through suspicious pdf file handling activities and establish incident response procedures for handling potential compromise scenarios. Additional mitigations include implementing application whitelisting policies, restricting user permissions when processing pdf documents, and deploying sandboxing technologies to isolate document processing activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software security patches and demonstrates the critical need for organizations to maintain comprehensive vulnerability management programs that can quickly respond to emerging threats in widely used software applications.