CVE-2014-0529 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.10 and 11.x before 11.0.07 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0529 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions 10.x prior to 10.1.10 and 11.x prior to 11.0.07 across Windows and macOS operating systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw manifests during the processing of malformed PDF documents, specifically when the software attempts to handle oversized or malformed data structures within the document's metadata or content streams.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes maliciously crafted PDF files that contain oversized data structures or malformed memory allocations. Attackers can construct PDF documents that trigger the buffer overflow condition, typically through manipulation of object sizes, string lengths, or array dimensions within the PDF file structure. When the vulnerable software attempts to parse these malicious elements, it fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it can be exploited to bypass security mechanisms and escalate privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Reader for document processing, particularly in environments where users frequently encounter PDF files from untrusted sources. The attack surface is broad given Adobe Reader's widespread deployment across enterprise networks, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access. Security analysts have documented various attack patterns where this vulnerability was used as a initial access vector, often combined with other techniques to establish footholds within target networks. The timing of exploitation typically occurs during document opening or rendering operations, making user interaction unavoidable for successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0529 require immediate patch deployment to update Adobe Reader and Acrobat to versions 10.1.10 or 11.0.07 respectively. Organizations should implement strict PDF file validation policies and consider sandboxing mechanisms to isolate PDF processing activities. Network-level controls such as PDF content filtering and deep packet inspection can help detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end users. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as attackers may leverage the executed code to establish persistence and conduct further reconnaissance. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles for Adobe Reader usage and disabling unnecessary features like JavaScript execution can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual PDF processing patterns and memory allocation anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts.