CVE-2011-4370 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 9.5, and 10.x before 10.1.2, on Windows and Mac OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-4372 and CVE-2011-4373.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 9.5 and 10.1.2 respectively on Windows and Mac OS X systems contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. This vulnerability affects the handling of malformed or specially crafted PDF files that are processed by the affected software components. The flaw exists in the way these applications parse and render certain PDF elements, leading to improper memory management during document processing operations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious PDF content that triggers the memory corruption when opened or rendered by the vulnerable software, potentially allowing remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the application.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption categories and can be classified according to CWE-125 as "Out-of-bounds Read" or CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write" depending on the specific exploitation vector. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the PDF parsing engine of Adobe's products. When processing specially crafted PDF files, the application fails to properly validate memory boundaries, leading to corruption of adjacent memory regions that can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability represents a significant risk in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4370 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise when successfully exploited. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially gain remote code execution capabilities on target systems, allowing them to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent access. The vulnerability affects widely deployed software across both Windows and Mac operating systems, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking broad exploitation coverage. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk exposure, especially in environments where users regularly interact with PDF documents from external sources or web applications.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Adobe Reader 9.5 or later versions and Acrobat 10.1.2 or later, which contain fixes addressing the memory corruption issues. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures such as PDF sandboxing, restricted file access controls, and network-based security controls that can help limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all affected systems are properly updated and monitored for potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through malicious document formats, emphasizing the need for comprehensive endpoint protection strategies that include both software updates and behavioral monitoring approaches.