CVE-2012-2024 in Illustrator
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-0780, CVE-2012-2023, CVE-2012-2025, and CVE-2012-2026.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
Adobe Illustrator versions prior to CS6 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat vector from other related issues in the same year, specifically excluding CVE-2012-0780, CVE-2012-2023, CVE-2012-2025, and CVE-2012-2026, which indicates the flaw originated from different code paths within the application. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple entry points within the software could potentially be leveraged by malicious actors. This type of memory corruption vulnerability typically arises when the application fails to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation during processing of specific file formats or commands. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that are commonly classified as CWE-125, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions, or CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions. These memory corruption flaws often align with ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The impact of such a vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it could also enable denial of service scenarios where legitimate users might experience application crashes or system instability. Attackers could potentially craft specially malformed files or manipulate input parameters that would trigger the memory corruption during normal operation of Illustrator. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue suggests that the application's memory management mechanisms were insufficient to prevent unauthorized memory access or modification during processing. Given that this vulnerability affects a graphics application, the attack surface could include various file format parsers and rendering components that handle complex vector graphics data. The memory corruption could manifest through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that occur when processing specific graphic elements or embedded content within Illustrator documents. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the challenges inherent in maintaining memory safety within complex graphics processing software where large amounts of data must be manipulated and rendered. The lack of specific details about the attack vectors in the CVE description indicates that the vulnerability was likely discovered through security research or penetration testing rather than public disclosure, which is common for zero-day vulnerabilities. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Illustrator should prioritize immediate patching or mitigation strategies, as this type of vulnerability typically remains exploitable for extended periods after initial disclosure. The vulnerability's presence in pre-CS6 versions of Illustrator indicates that the memory safety issues were not adequately addressed in the application's architecture, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the realm of software security flaws that require careful attention from both developers and security professionals. Memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged for privilege escalation or information disclosure, making them attractive targets for sophisticated attackers. The fact that this vulnerability affects a widely used creative application like Illustrator also increases its potential impact, as attackers could target creative professionals or organizations with high-value graphic assets. The vulnerability's relationship to other related CVEs from the same period suggests that Adobe's security team was addressing multiple interconnected issues within their software, but each vulnerability required distinct remediation approaches. This scenario reflects the complexity of modern software security where applications must maintain robust defenses against various attack vectors while providing complex functionality to users. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with industry best practices for vulnerability categorization, where such flaws are typically prioritized for immediate remediation due to their exploitation potential. Organizations should implement layered security approaches including application whitelisting, sandboxing, and regular security updates to protect against this type of vulnerability. The vulnerability's presence in Illustrator also underscores the importance of supply chain security, as compromised graphics files could serve as attack vectors for delivering malware to unsuspecting users. Security researchers and penetration testers should continue monitoring for similar vulnerabilities in creative software applications, as these often represent underexplored attack surfaces due to the specialized nature of their functionality. The vulnerability's impact on both security and stability makes it a critical concern for enterprise environments where Illustrator is widely deployed.