CVE-2012-4152 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-2012-4151, 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
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 remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. Unlike other related vulnerabilities in the same year, CVE-2012-4152 operates through distinct attack vectors that specifically target memory handling mechanisms within the Adobe Acrobat processing engine. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the parsing of PDF documents, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures and gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption exploits that leverage buffer overflows or heap corruption techniques within the PDF rendering components of Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Attackers can craft specially malformed PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable versions, trigger memory corruption conditions. These conditions typically manifest through improper bounds checking or inadequate input validation during PDF object processing, allowing attackers to overwrite memory locations with malicious payloads. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2012-4152 can result in complete system compromise or service disruption. The arbitrary code execution capability enables attackers to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations running vulnerable Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability affects both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, indicating a cross-platform threat vector that requires comprehensive security measures across different operating system environments. This vulnerability can be leveraged in phishing campaigns, drive-by download attacks, or targeted attacks against specific organizations.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patch deployment for Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.x before 9.5.2 and 10.x before 10.1.4 to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing Adobe's security updates and patches as soon as they become available, alongside network-based protections such as content filtering and sandboxing solutions. Organizations should also consider disabling PDF plugin execution in web browsers and implementing strict access controls for PDF document handling. The attack pattern for this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the mitre ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments, network monitoring for suspicious PDF-related traffic, and user education about safe PDF handling practices to reduce the attack surface for this and similar vulnerabilities.