CVE-2014-8459 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-2014-8447, CVE-2014-8456, CVE-2014-8458, 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 before 10.1.13 and 11.x before 11.0.10 on Windows and OS X contain a memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other CVEs published in the same timeframe, including CVE-2014-8445 through CVE-2014-9158, indicating that attackers can exploit this weakness without relying on the known vulnerabilities in the same advisory. The flaw manifests as memory corruption issues that can be triggered when processing specially crafted PDF documents, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory structures within the application's runtime environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it specifically involves memory corruption rather than traditional buffer overflows. The attack surface is significant given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed across enterprise and personal environments, making successful exploitation potentially impactful across numerous systems. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for code execution, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The memory corruption aspect typically occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data during PDF parsing operations, leading to unpredictable behavior when memory is accessed beyond allocated boundaries. This vulnerability represents a critical security concern because PDF documents are commonly shared through email attachments, web downloads, and document sharing platforms, providing multiple attack vectors for threat actors. The memory corruption can be exploited through various methods including heap spraying, return-oriented programming, or direct memory manipulation techniques that leverage the application's memory management flaws. The specific nature of the vulnerability means that even a single malicious PDF document could potentially compromise an entire system if the user opens it with the vulnerable Adobe Reader or Acrobat software.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to craft malicious PDF files that trigger specific memory corruption conditions within the Adobe application. The attack typically involves manipulating PDF objects, streams, or cross-reference tables in ways that cause the application to improperly handle memory allocation or deallocation. When the vulnerable application processes such malformed data, it can result in memory corruption that may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where the application crashes or becomes unstable due to corrupted memory states. This memory corruption can manifest in various ways including heap corruption, stack corruption, or data structure corruption that affects the application's ability to function normally. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread use of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, which are often set as default PDF handlers on Windows and OS X systems. Attackers can leverage this by embedding malicious PDF content in phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised documents that users are likely to open, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with common exploit patterns described in security research literature and represents a significant concern for organizations relying on Adobe's PDF processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to versions 10.1.13 and 11.0.10 respectively, which contain the necessary security fixes to address the memory corruption issues. Organizations should implement strict email filtering and PDF scanning measures to prevent potentially malicious documents from reaching end users, particularly when these documents are received through untrusted sources. Network-based security controls such as web proxies, content filters, and sandboxing solutions can provide additional layers of protection by analyzing PDF content before it reaches user systems. System hardening measures including disabling automatic PDF preview in web browsers, restricting Adobe Reader's functionality through security policies, and implementing application whitelisting can further reduce the attack surface. Regular security awareness training for users about the risks of opening PDF attachments from unknown sources is essential, as social engineering remains a primary attack vector for exploiting such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue makes it particularly resistant to traditional antivirus solutions, necessitating more sophisticated endpoint protection measures including behavioral monitoring and memory integrity checking. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, particularly in high-value targets such as financial institutions or government agencies. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing business applications or workflows. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential attack vectors that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability.