CVE-2012-2051 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.2 and 10.x before 10.1.4 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-2012-4147, CVE-2012-4148, CVE-2012-4149, CVE-2012-4150, CVE-2012-4151, CVE-2012-4152, CVE-2012-4153, CVE-2012-4154, CVE-2012-4155, CVE-2012-4156, CVE-2012-4157, CVE-2012-4158, CVE-2012-4159, and CVE-2012-4160.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2018
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.x before 9.5.2 and 10.x before 10.1.4 on both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. The flaw represents a memory corruption issue that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. Unlike other related vulnerabilities in the same year, CVE-2012-2051 represents a distinct vector that specifically targets memory handling mechanisms within the Adobe Acrobat processing engine. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the software's handling of crafted PDF files, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed malicious content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that occurs when Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes malformed PDF documents. Attackers can craft PDF files containing specifically designed payloads that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors within the application's parsing routines. These memory corruption issues typically manifest when the software attempts to read or write data beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the user running the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the memory level, allowing attackers to potentially bypass security controls and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2051 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include full system compromise potential. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute malicious code remotely, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The attack surface is particularly wide given that Adobe Reader is widely deployed across enterprise environments and individual users, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat are vulnerable to targeted attacks where malicious PDF files are delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or other common attack vectors. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in significant business disruption, data loss, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to versions 9.5.2 or 10.1.4 and later. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all endpoints are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing email filtering solutions to block suspicious PDF attachments, disabling automatic PDF opening in web browsers, and employing sandboxing technologies to isolate PDF processing. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for known malicious PDF patterns and suspicious file transfers. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized software and maintain regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, while ATT&CK framework categorizes this under initial access through malicious file delivery and privilege escalation through code execution techniques.