CVE-2013-2723 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-2718, CVE-2013-2719, CVE-2013-2720, CVE-2013-2721, CVE-2013-2722, CVE-2013-2725, CVE-2013-2726, CVE-2013-2731, CVE-2013-2732, CVE-2013-2734, CVE-2013-2735, CVE-2013-2736, CVE-2013-3337, CVE-2013-3338, CVE-2013-3339, CVE-2013-3340, and CVE-2013-3341.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2021
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 9.5.5, 10.1.7, and 11.0.03 contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat model from several other related CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a separate code path or implementation flaw within Adobe's PDF processing libraries. The memory corruption issue arises during the parsing or rendering of maliciously crafted PDF documents, where attacker-controlled input can manipulate memory structures in ways that lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple product versions and major release lines, suggesting a fundamental flaw in how Adobe handles certain PDF elements or data structures. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors indicates that the vulnerability could be triggered through various PDF elements such as embedded objects, JavaScript, or specific formatting constructs that cause memory allocation or deallocation errors during document processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting a malicious PDF file that triggers improper memory handling when the affected Adobe software attempts to parse or render the document. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code within the context of the user's session, potentially leading to full system compromise. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the vulnerability may involve buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that occur when Adobe's PDF engine processes malformed input data. Such flaws often align with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, or CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, though the exact mechanism remains unspecified in the CVE description. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where legitimate documents may cause the application to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting business operations and user productivity.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2723 is substantial for organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing, as the vulnerability can be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or any PDF file delivery mechanism. This makes it particularly attractive to threat actors conducting targeted attacks or mass phishing campaigns. The vulnerability's presence across multiple major versions indicates that Adobe's PDF engine contains a persistent flaw that affects users across different software releases, requiring comprehensive patch management strategies. Organizations may face significant operational disruption if they cannot immediately deploy patches, as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering campaigns that trick users into opening malicious PDF files. The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for client execution through malicious documents, making it a common vector for initial compromise in enterprise security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2723 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations, as the vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can lead to complete system compromise. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to prevent exploitation attempts before patches can be deployed. Security teams should also consider disabling JavaScript execution in Adobe Reader and Acrobat to reduce the attack surface, though this may impact legitimate document functionality. Regular security assessments should include verification that all Adobe products are updated to versions that address this vulnerability, and incident response procedures should be updated to include detection and response protocols for PDF-based attacks. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening PDF files from trusted sources and avoiding suspicious email attachments that may contain malicious documents designed to exploit this and similar vulnerabilities.