CVE-2011-2436 in Acrobat
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the image-parsing library 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2436 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within Adobe Reader and Acrobat's image-parsing library, affecting multiple version ranges including 8.x before 8.3.1, 9.x before 9.4.6, and 10.x before 10.1.1. This flaw resides in the handling of image data structures and demonstrates a classic memory corruption vulnerability that has been historically exploited by adversaries seeking to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during the parsing of image files, specifically when processing malformed or specially crafted image data that exceeds allocated memory buffers. Such buffer overflows occur when programs write more data to a buffer than it can safely hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based and heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through malicious document parsing. The security implications extend beyond simple code execution as attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The impact is particularly severe given Adobe Reader's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and personal computing systems, making it a prime target for exploitation. Attackers typically craft malicious PDF documents containing malformed image data that triggers the buffer overflow when the vulnerable application attempts to render the image, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often involving merely opening a malicious document, which makes it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. Adobe's patching cycle for this vulnerability required users to update to specific version releases that addressed the memory handling issues in the image parsing component. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive patch management strategies, network segmentation, and user education to mitigate the risk associated with this and similar vulnerabilities. The flaw exemplifies the ongoing challenge of memory safety issues in complex software applications and underscores the importance of robust input validation and memory management practices. Security professionals should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and ensure that all Adobe applications remain current with security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign functionality such as image rendering can become a vector for sophisticated attacks, highlighting the need for continuous security assessment of all application components. This particular CVE serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely patch deployment and the potential for privilege escalation through carefully crafted payloads that exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities in widely used software applications.