CVE-2014-8447 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.13 and 11.x before 11.0.10 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-8445, CVE-2014-8446, CVE-2014-8456, CVE-2014-8458, CVE-2014-8459, CVE-2014-8461, and CVE-2014-9158.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 10.x prior to 10.1.13 and 11.x prior to 11.0.10 contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability on both Windows and macOS platforms that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat vector from several other CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a complex attack surface within Adobe's PDF processing engine. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple code paths within the software could be exploited, potentially including improper memory handling during PDF document parsing or rendering operations.
The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within Adobe's PDF interpreter component. When processing maliciously crafted PDF files, the application fails to properly validate memory allocations or handle buffer operations, leading to potential overwrite conditions or use-after-free scenarios. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the software does not adequately check bounds of memory operations or fails to properly manage heap allocations during PDF processing. The flaw operates at a low level within the application's memory management subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader remains a widely used PDF viewer application. Attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that, when opened by a victim with the vulnerable version of Adobe Reader, trigger the memory corruption and allow for remote code execution. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation as the vulnerability can also cause denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting business operations through application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability affects both Windows and macOS platforms, expanding the potential attack surface and making it relevant across multiple operating system environments. Organizations running these older versions face increased exposure to targeted attacks, particularly in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources.
The technical flaw aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The memory corruption vulnerability falls within the broader category of heap-based buffer overflow conditions that have historically been exploited in PDF readers and other document processing applications. Security researchers have identified that such vulnerabilities often stem from the complex nature of PDF parsing, where the software must handle numerous different data structures and encoding methods while maintaining memory integrity throughout the processing pipeline.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to versions 10.1.13 or 11.0.10 and later. Organizations should implement strict PDF document filtering policies, particularly for incoming emails and file transfers, to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious documents. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious PDF content before it reaches end-user systems. Additionally, implementing user education programs to avoid opening suspicious PDF attachments and regularly updating security software can help reduce the risk of exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques or virtualization of PDF viewing operations to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing layered security controls to protect against sophisticated attack vectors targeting widely used applications.