CVE-2012-4159 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-2012-4152, CVE-2012-4153, CVE-2012-4154, CVE-2012-4155, CVE-2012-4156, CVE-2012-4157, CVE-2012-4158, and CVE-2012-4160.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2018
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a critical security risk for users on both windows and mac os x operating systems. The flaw represents a memory corruption issue that can be exploited through unspecified attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as security researchers and attackers have not fully disclosed the precise technical mechanisms involved. Unlike other related vulnerabilities in the same year, CVE-2012-4159 maintains its distinct classification, indicating a unique code path or memory handling issue within the software's processing mechanisms. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Adobe's document processing libraries, which are responsible for parsing pdf files and other document formats. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically occur when software writes data beyond allocated memory boundaries or fails to properly validate input data before processing. In this case, the issue manifests during the parsing of specially crafted pdf documents that contain malformed data structures or unexpected input sequences. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the application's memory management system, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow. This type of vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-121 heap-based buffer overflow or cwe-125 out-of-bounds read, though the specific implementation details remain undisclosed due to the nature of the undisclosed attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4159 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence in widely used software like Adobe Reader creates an extensive attack surface, as users frequently open pdf documents from untrusted sources including email attachments, web downloads, and shared network locations. Organizations that rely heavily on pdf document processing are particularly at risk, as the vulnerability can be triggered through simple document opening operations without requiring user interaction beyond the initial document load. The memory corruption aspect suggests that attackers may be able to manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully crafted input data, potentially enabling privilege escalation or remote code execution capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations must prioritize updating Adobe Reader and Acrobat to versions 9.5.2 or later for version 9.x installations, and 10.1.4 or later for version 10.x installations, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes. Beyond patching, network administrators should implement content filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious pdf documents before they reach end users. Additional protective measures include disabling automatic pdf opening in web browsers, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments of pdf processing workflows. The vulnerability's classification under the broader category of memory corruption issues aligns with attack techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and execution of malicious code through software vulnerabilities. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and ensure that incident response procedures include specific protocols for handling pdf-based attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify any remaining exposure points in environments where the vulnerability cannot be immediately patched.