CVE-2014-8461 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-2014-8459, 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 memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks on both Windows and macOS platforms. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related issues discovered in the same timeframe, including CVE-2014-8445 through CVE-2014-9158, which underscores the complexity of the Adobe Acrobat security landscape during this period. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that the memory corruption occurs through multiple potential entry points within the application's processing of maliciously crafted PDF files. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-119 weakness category, which encompasses memory safety issues including buffer overflows and memory corruption flaws that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involves improper memory management during PDF parsing operations, where attacker-controlled input can trigger heap corruption or stack overflow conditions that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it can also result in denial of service conditions, where system stability is compromised through memory corruption that causes application crashes or system instability. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Adobe Reader's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and individual user systems, making this vulnerability a prime target for adversaries seeking to leverage it for broader compromise. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the persistent challenges in securing complex document processing applications where the parsing of untrusted input data creates numerous potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and OS X platforms indicates a cross-platform threat that requires coordinated remediation efforts across different operating system environments. Organizations deploying Adobe Reader and Acrobat products should prioritize immediate patching to address this memory corruption vulnerability. The remediation strategy should include systematic deployment of the vendor-provided security updates, alongside network segmentation and application whitelisting controls to limit potential exploitation opportunities. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious PDF file handling activities and consider sandboxing mechanisms to contain potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services through memory corruption, and T1059, which covers the use of command and scripting interpreters. The vulnerability also reflects broader security concerns related to software supply chain attacks where legitimate applications become vectors for compromise, highlighting the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. The affected versions represent a critical security gap that required immediate attention from system administrators and security operations teams to prevent potential exploitation in real-world environments.