CVE-2013-2736 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-2013-2735, 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 code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat model from several other CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a complex exploitation surface within Adobe's PDF processing engine. The flaw resides in how the software handles certain PDF file structures, specifically manifesting during the parsing and rendering of malformed or specially crafted PDF documents. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability stems from improper memory management when processing specific elements within PDF files, leading to buffer overflows or heap corruption that can be leveraged by malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it can also result in denial of service conditions where legitimate users experience application crashes or system instability. This issue falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution, where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in software to run malicious code. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these applications are widely deployed. The attack surface is significantly expanded by the fact that PDF files can be delivered through multiple vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and malicious websites, allowing for sophisticated social engineering campaigns. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat are at heightened risk of targeted attacks, as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction in many scenarios, particularly when the software automatically opens PDF files from web browsers or email clients. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, with attackers potentially gaining elevated privileges or executing malicious payloads with the same privileges as the vulnerable application. This vulnerability requires immediate attention from security administrators due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread deployment of affected software versions across enterprise networks. The complexity of PDF processing and the numerous attack vectors available through web-based delivery mechanisms make this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against without proper patch management protocols. Organizations should prioritize patching these vulnerable versions to prevent exploitation, as the window of opportunity for attackers remains open while systems remain unpatched. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with common exploitation patterns in PDF-based attacks and demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex document processing software against adversarial manipulation. Security teams must implement comprehensive monitoring and incident response procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that all endpoints are updated with the latest security patches from Adobe. The vulnerability's relationship to other CVEs in the same advisory period indicates that Adobe's PDF engine contains multiple weaknesses that require coordinated remediation efforts, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive vulnerability management programs.