CVE-2013-2731 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-2013-2723, CVE-2013-2725, CVE-2013-2726, 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 security flaw from multiple related CVEs published in the same year, indicating a complex attack surface within Adobe's document processing components. The memory corruption issue occurs during the handling of specific PDF file structures, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory through crafted malicious documents. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of code injection, where adversaries attempt to execute malicious code within the context of a legitimate application process. The affected versions suggest that this flaw existed across multiple product lines and release cycles, indicating a fundamental issue in Adobe's PDF parsing engine that was not adequately addressed in the affected versions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management during PDF document processing, where attacker-controlled input data can cause buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes a maliciously crafted PDF file, the application's memory handling routines fail to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, leading to unpredictable memory state changes. This memory corruption can manifest in various ways including stack smashing, heap spraying, or pointer manipulation that ultimately allows an attacker to overwrite critical memory locations or redirect execution flow. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple code paths within the PDF processing engine could trigger the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can potentially exploit different entry points. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat means that simply opening a malicious PDF file could compromise a victim's system without requiring any additional user interaction beyond the initial document opening. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK technique of initial access through malicious files, where adversaries deliver payloads through document-based attacks that leverage application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass significant risks for enterprise environments where Adobe Reader remains a commonly used application for document viewing. Organizations that have not updated their Adobe Reader installations to versions 9.5.5, 10.1.7, or 11.0.03 respectively face potential compromise through spear-phishing campaigns or malicious document delivery. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that even if an attacker cannot directly execute code, they can cause denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where document processing is critical. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates that Adobe's security team may have identified a systemic issue in how the application handles certain PDF structures, requiring comprehensive patching rather than targeted fixes. This situation reflects the broader challenge of maintaining security in complex software applications where vulnerabilities can exist across multiple layers of code execution and processing. The attack surface implications are particularly concerning given that PDF files are frequently used in business communications, making this vulnerability a prime target for targeted attacks against enterprise networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe Reader installations, as well as network-based protections such as PDF file scanning and content filtering. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files and consider deploying sandboxing technologies to isolate document processing activities. The security community's response to this vulnerability should include monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious PDF file patterns. Adobe's official patch releases for versions 9.5.5, 10.1.7, and 11.0.03 address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management routines. Additional defensive measures include user education regarding suspicious document attachments and implementing multi-factor authentication for critical systems where Adobe Reader is used. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue emphasizes the need for robust memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention that can mitigate exploitation attempts even if the underlying vulnerability remains unpatched. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across their enterprise infrastructure.