CVE-2015-3051 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.14 and 11.x before 11.0.11 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-2014-9161, CVE-2015-3046, CVE-2015-3049, CVE-2015-3050, CVE-2015-3052, CVE-2015-3056, CVE-2015-3057, CVE-2015-3070, and CVE-2015-3076.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 10.x prior to 10.1.14 and 11.x prior to 11.0.11 contain a memory corruption vulnerability on Windows and OS X platforms that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from several other CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a separate code path or memory handling flaw within the affected software components. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through various means during PDF document processing, potentially including malformed embedded objects, corrupted data structures, or improper memory management during document rendering operations. The memory corruption aspect implies that attackers could manipulate heap or stack memory in ways that lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability, making this a critical security concern for organizations relying on these document viewers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses identified in the CWE database, particularly CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption flaws typically arise from insufficient bounds checking during buffer operations, pointer arithmetic errors, or improper handling of user-supplied data within memory structures. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe's PDF processing libraries indicates potential issues in how the software handles complex document objects, especially those with embedded scripts, images, or multimedia content that require extensive memory allocation and management. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially craft malicious PDF files that trigger memory corruption when opened or processed by the vulnerable software, leading to complete system compromise or service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3051 extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as the vulnerability affects widely deployed software across enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently opened and shared. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users have limited security awareness or where automated document processing systems rely on these applications. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain unauthorized access to systems through phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised document repositories without requiring local system access. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate networks where PDF documents flow through multiple systems and users, potentially serving as a gateway for more extensive attacks. The denial of service aspect further compounds the risk, as attackers could disrupt business operations by causing applications to crash or become unresponsive, leading to productivity losses and potential revenue impacts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3051 should prioritize immediate software updates to the patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, which address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved bounds checking and memory management routines. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems running vulnerable software are updated promptly, particularly in environments where PDF documents are regularly processed or shared. Network-based defenses such as PDF content filtering, sandboxing solutions, and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers by analyzing and blocking potentially malicious PDF content before it reaches vulnerable applications. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about opening PDF documents from untrusted sources and establishing strict policies around document handling and software usage. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1106 for execution through API calls, indicating that successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within compromised systems.