CVE-2013-0617 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer 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-2013-0606, CVE-2013-0612, CVE-2013-0615, and CVE-2013-0621.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0617 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions. This vulnerability specifically impacts Adobe Reader 9.x versions prior to 9.5.3, 10.x versions prior to 10.1.5, and 11.x versions prior to 11.0.1, creating a significant security risk for organizations and individual users who rely on these document viewing applications. The flaw resides in the way the software handles certain input data structures, particularly within the processing of PDF documents, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to compromise systems through document-based attacks.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the Adobe Reader and Acrobat applications when processing maliciously crafted PDF files. When a user opens a specially constructed PDF document, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of data being read from the document, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can be leveraged to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, typically resulting in system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be triggered through simple user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0617 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access to compromised systems. This vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Exploitation for Client Execution" and can be categorized under CWE-121 for Stack-based Buffer Overflow. The flaw enables attackers to bypass standard security controls, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and further lateral movement within compromised networks. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions of Adobe software face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where PDF documents are frequently opened and shared.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, with Adobe releasing updated versions to address the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all vulnerable installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, deploying sandboxing technologies for PDF processing, and configuring email filters to block potentially malicious PDF attachments. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening PDF documents from trusted sources and maintaining current software versions to prevent exploitation attempts.