CVE-2013-3338 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-2013-2736, CVE-2013-3337, 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 from multiple related CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a separate code path or implementation flaw within the affected software components. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within the PDF processing engine, where maliciously crafted PDF files can trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios that allow attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The affected versions span multiple major releases, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the underlying PDF parsing and rendering libraries that was not adequately addressed through previous patches.
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. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted PDF documents that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger memory corruption in the application's heap management routines. The memory corruption can manifest as arbitrary code execution when the application attempts to execute malicious code injected into memory regions, or as denial of service when the application crashes due to corrupted memory structures. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because PDF files are commonly distributed via email attachments, web downloads, and malicious websites, providing numerous attack vectors for threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects enterprise environments where Adobe Reader remains widely deployed for document viewing and processing. Organizations that have not updated to patched versions remain exposed to potential compromise through social engineering campaigns targeting users with vulnerable software installations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat means that attackers can potentially gain full system control without requiring local access or user interaction beyond opening a malicious document. This characteristic places it within the ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where attackers can leverage the compromised system for further reconnaissance or lateral movement within networks. The widespread adoption of Adobe Reader across various industries makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or conduct large-scale attacks.
Organizations should immediately deploy patches from Adobe to update their Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to versions 9.5.5, 10.1.7, or 11.0.03 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for the memory corruption vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing email filtering solutions to block suspicious PDF attachments, disabling PDF processing in web browsers where possible, and employing sandboxing techniques to isolate PDF document rendering. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to PDF-based attacks and consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted PDF files. Network segmentation and user education regarding the risks of opening unknown PDF files can further reduce the attack surface and potential impact of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated exploitation techniques.