CVE-2013-2735 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-2013-2731, CVE-2013-2732, CVE-2013-2734, 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 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03 contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat model from several other CVEs published in the same year, indicating that the memory corruption issue stems from unique code paths within the affected software components. The flaw resides in the handling of malformed or specially crafted PDF documents that, when processed by the vulnerable applications, trigger memory corruption patterns leading to potential code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption issues typically arise when applications fail to properly validate input data or when buffer management routines contain flaws that allow attackers to manipulate memory layout. The vulnerability's unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the PDF processing engine could be exploited, potentially including improper handling of embedded objects, malformed stream data, or corrupted metadata structures that the applications attempt to parse and render. Such vulnerabilities often manifest through stack or heap corruption that can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing and viewing. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that attackers could gain complete system control, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats. The memory corruption nature also makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can lead to system crashes or reboots, causing denial of service that may impact business operations. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions simultaneously, indicating a fundamental flaw in the codebase rather than isolated incidents, and the fact that it's separate from other CVEs from the same period suggests that it represents a distinct attack surface within the PDF rendering architecture.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves tricking users into opening maliciously crafted PDF files through social engineering campaigns, phishing emails, or compromised websites. Once opened, the malicious document triggers the memory corruption flaw during PDF parsing or rendering operations. This vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and potentially T1059, which involves command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should implement strict email filtering, web proxy security measures, and user education programs to reduce exposure to this threat. The most effective mitigation involves immediate patching of affected versions to Adobe Reader and Acrobat, with administrators prioritizing updates to versions 9.5.5, 10.1.7, and 11.0.03 respectively. Additionally, implementing sandboxing mechanisms and restricting PDF file handling capabilities through group policies can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts.