CVE-2013-0613 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.3, 10.x before 10.1.5, and 11.x before 11.0.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-0609.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2018
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 9.5.3, 10.1.5, and 11.0.1 contained a critical integer overflow vulnerability that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically affected the handling of integer values during memory allocation operations, where an attacker could manipulate input data to cause an integer overflow condition that would lead to memory corruption. The flaw manifested when the application processed malformed PDF files containing specially crafted data structures that would trigger the overflow during buffer allocation calculations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow or wraparound, which represents a fundamental weakness in software arithmetic operations that can lead to severe security consequences. The attack vector typically involved enticing users to open maliciously crafted PDF documents that would trigger the vulnerable code path during document parsing and rendering operations. The integer overflow occurred in the memory management subsystem where the application calculated buffer sizes based on user-supplied data, allowing an attacker to specify values that would cause the calculation to wrap around to a much smaller value than intended, resulting in insufficient buffer allocation that could be overwritten by subsequent operations. This vulnerability was distinct from CVE-2013-0609 and represented a separate code path that could be exploited through the same general attack surface. The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe as it could allow remote code execution without user interaction, given that PDF files could be delivered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The exploit would typically require the victim to open the malicious document, which would then trigger the integer overflow during normal PDF processing operations. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be leveraged to bypass security controls and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable Adobe application. The attack could potentially be used to deliver malware, establish persistent access, or perform privilege escalation attacks. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat were at significant risk, as this vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems and potentially compromise entire networks. The vulnerability was classified under the attack technique of code injection in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the execution phase where attackers seek to run malicious code on compromised systems. Adobe addressed this vulnerability through patches released in their regular update cycle, which corrected the integer overflow by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation during memory allocation operations. The fix involved ensuring that integer calculations used to determine buffer sizes would properly detect overflow conditions and prevent the allocation of insufficiently sized buffers. Security professionals recommended immediate patching of all affected systems and implementation of additional security controls such as email filtering, web application firewalls, and user education to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper input validation and arithmetic overflow protection in software development, particularly in applications that process untrusted data from external sources. Organizations should have implemented automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and should have considered alternative PDF viewing solutions or sandboxing approaches to reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability served as a reminder of the critical nature of memory safety issues in widely deployed software applications and the importance of robust security testing and code review processes. The integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat represented a classic example of how seemingly minor arithmetic errors in software can lead to catastrophic security consequences, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security practices throughout the software development lifecycle.