CVE-2012-4151 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-2012-2051, CVE-2012-4147, CVE-2012-4148, CVE-2012-4149, CVE-2012-4150, 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 • 10/15/2018
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.x before 9.5.2 and 10.x before 10.1.4 contain a memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks on Windows and Mac OS X systems. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a broader class of memory safety issues within Adobe's PDF processing libraries. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that multiple code paths within the software could potentially trigger the memory corruption, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit various entry points to compromise systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack typically occurs when a malicious PDF file is opened, causing the vulnerable Adobe application to improperly handle memory allocation or deallocation during PDF parsing operations. The memory corruption can manifest in various forms including heap corruption, stack overflow, or use-after-free conditions that allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects widely used PDF viewing applications and can be exploited through social engineering techniques where users unknowingly open maliciously crafted PDF documents. The attack surface is extensive given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are installed on millions of systems globally, making this vulnerability a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent access or disrupt operations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves legitimate user credentials or software exploitation to gain access to systems. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat should immediately apply the security patches released by Adobe to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction once a malicious PDF is opened. The memory corruption nature of this flaw makes it particularly challenging to detect through traditional signature-based security measures, requiring updated heuristic analysis and behavioral monitoring to identify potential exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how PDF parsing libraries can contain critical memory safety issues that arise from improper handling of malformed input data. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes PDF files, it allocates memory for various objects such as fonts, images, and embedded content, and the vulnerability occurs during these memory management operations. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple parsing functions within the PDF engine could be affected, potentially including handling of compressed data streams, embedded JavaScript, or complex graphics objects. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate bounds checking, null pointer dereferences, or improper memory deallocation that creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code. The fact that this vulnerability affects both Windows and Mac OS X platforms indicates that the underlying memory management issues exist in the cross-platform codebase, making the exploitation more versatile across different operating environments. Security researchers have identified that such memory corruption vulnerabilities often follow patterns where attackers can craft specific PDF structures that cause the application to behave unpredictably, leading to code execution. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of heap-based buffer overflows and related memory safety problems that have been extensively documented in security literature and represent one of the most common attack vectors in software exploitation. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential system compromise and data exfiltration, as attackers can leverage the arbitrary code execution capability to establish backdoors, install additional malware, or access sensitive information stored on compromised systems.
Organizations that have not yet patched their Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations face significant operational risks that can result in substantial financial and reputational damage. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution means that attackers can compromise systems without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond opening a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF files from various sources. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability can also lead to denial of service conditions that may require system restarts or application reinstallation, disrupting business operations and productivity. Security teams should implement comprehensive patch management strategies that include testing patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing workflows and applications. The vulnerability's relationship to other CVEs in the same year indicates that Adobe was dealing with a broader class of memory safety issues within their PDF processing software, suggesting that additional vulnerabilities may exist within the same codebase. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as email filtering, web application firewalls, and sandboxing techniques to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework's T1059 technique, which involves command and scripting interpreter usage, becomes particularly relevant when considering that successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute commands on compromised systems. Furthermore, the vulnerability's impact on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms requires organizations to maintain consistent security postures across all operating systems, as attackers may target the platform with the weakest security controls. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include checks for Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to identify unpatched systems that remain at risk. The cumulative effect of multiple related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe suggests that Adobe's PDF engine required significant security improvements, and organizations should consider alternative PDF viewing solutions or enhanced security measures for handling PDF documents in their environments.