CVE-2014-9161 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
CoolType.dll in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.13 and 11.x before 11.0.10 on Windows, and 10.x through 10.1.13 and 11.x through 11.0.10 on OS X, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted PDF document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9161 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the CoolType.dll component of Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions. This issue affects both Windows and macOS platforms, with specific impacted versions including Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.1.13 and 11.x before 11.0.10 on Windows, alongside corresponding versions on OS X. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the font rendering engine that processes PDF documents, specifically when handling malformed or crafted font data within PDF files. Such flaws in document processing components are particularly dangerous as they can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users unknowingly open malicious PDF documents, making this a significant vector for targeted attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious PDF document contains specially crafted font data that triggers an out-of-bounds memory read operation within the CoolType.dll library. This type of flaw falls under CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. When the vulnerable software attempts to process the malformed font data, it reads memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially causing application crashes or, in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code. The out-of-bounds read can lead to information disclosure, system instability, or in some cases, full system compromise depending on the memory layout and exploitation techniques employed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates within the core rendering pipeline of PDF processing, making it difficult to detect through standard security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9161 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe attacks that could compromise entire systems. Organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing face significant risk when users encounter malicious PDF documents, as the vulnerability can be triggered through legitimate document opening activities without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors. This makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to conduct large-scale attacks or targeted espionage campaigns. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software means that successful exploitation could affect thousands of systems across different organizations, making it a prime target for nation-state actors or organized cybercriminal groups. The potential for unspecified other impacts, as noted in the original CVE description, suggests that exploitation might enable privilege escalation or information leakage that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including prompt deployment of Adobe's security patches, which address the vulnerability by strengthening input validation within the CoolType.dll component. Network-based defenses should include PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious documents. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual PDF processing activities and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems running unpatched versions of Adobe software. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services through malicious documents, making it a critical component of endpoint security strategies. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and educating users about avoiding suspicious PDF attachments can significantly reduce the attack surface and potential impact of such vulnerabilities.