CVE-2014-9150 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in the MoveFileEx call hook feature in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 11.x before 11.0.09 on Windows allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism, and consequently write to files in arbitrary locations, via an NTFS junction attack, a similar issue to CVE-2014-0568.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9150 represents a critical race condition flaw within Adobe Reader and Acrobat 11.x versions prior to 11.0.09 on Windows operating systems. This security weakness specifically targets the MoveFileEx call hook feature, which is designed to monitor and control file operations within the application's sandbox environment. The race condition occurs during the execution of file move operations, creating a temporal window where the system's security controls can be circumvented through carefully orchestrated file system manipulations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on an NTFS junction attack vector that leverages the inherent timing discrepancies in how the MoveFileEx hook processes file operations. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes file move requests, the race condition allows malicious actors to manipulate the file system between the time when the hook is initially invoked and when the actual file operation is completed. This temporal gap enables attackers to create symbolic links or junction points that redirect the file system operations to arbitrary locations, effectively bypassing the intended sandbox protections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed for document processing and viewing. The ability to write to arbitrary file locations through sandbox bypass mechanisms means that attackers can potentially modify critical system files, install malicious payloads, or manipulate sensitive data without proper authorization. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2014-0568 indicates a pattern of file system manipulation weaknesses in Adobe's security architecture that affects multiple components within the same product family. This type of attack can be particularly devastating in environments where users frequently open untrusted PDF documents, as the exploitation can occur during normal document processing operations.
The security implications extend beyond simple file system manipulation to encompass broader sandbox escape capabilities that align with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in system call hooks can create substantial security risks when combined with operating system features like NTFS junctions. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat should consider immediate remediation through patch management processes, as the vulnerability represents a direct threat to the integrity of sandboxed environments that are fundamental to protecting against malicious document-based attacks. The flaw underscores the importance of proper synchronization mechanisms in security-critical code paths and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of race condition scenarios in security software implementations.
This vulnerability type maps directly to CWE-367, which addresses time-of-check to time-of-use security issues, and demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining consistent security states throughout file operation processing. The attack vector specifically targets the file system's temporal consistency model, where the expected security boundaries can be violated due to improper handling of concurrent operations. The remediation approach should include not only the application of the vendor-provided patches but also the implementation of additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts in environments where immediate patching may not be feasible.