CVE-2012-0774 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.1 and 10.x before 10.1.3 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TrueType font.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0774 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 9.5.1 and 10.1.3. This vulnerability specifically resides within the handling of TrueType font files, which are commonly used for text rendering in digital documents. The flaw enables remote code execution when a maliciously crafted TrueType font is processed by the affected software, making it a significant threat to end-user security. The integer overflow occurs during the parsing of font metadata, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to manipulate font parameters to trigger memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of font structure elements within Adobe's font rendering engine. When processing a specially constructed TrueType font, the application fails to properly validate integer values used for memory allocation calculations. This oversight creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate font parameters to cause integer overflow, resulting in a situation where the application attempts to allocate an insufficient amount of memory for a buffer. The resulting memory corruption can then be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the running application. This flaw aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0774 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a sophisticated attack vector that has been actively exploited in the wild. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various delivery mechanisms including malicious PDF documents, email attachments, or web-based attacks where users unknowingly open compromised documents. The exploitation typically requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently encounter PDF documents from external sources. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations, creating substantial risk across different organizational sectors including government, finance, and healthcare industries.
Organizations exposed to this vulnerability face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread use of Adobe Reader across different platforms and the common practice of opening PDF documents from untrusted sources. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically noting its relationship to privilege escalation and execution techniques. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies including email filtering, web proxy controls, and application whitelisting to limit exposure to such attacks. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems potentially affected by this integer overflow condition.