CVE-2015-3055 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.14 and 11.x before 11.0.11 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3053, CVE-2015-3054, CVE-2015-3059, and CVE-2015-3075.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The CVE-2015-3055 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions 10.x prior to 10.1.14 and 11.x prior to 11.0.11 across Windows and macOS platforms. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for malicious actors. The flaw enables remote code execution through unspecified attack vectors that differ from several other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must maintain comprehensive vulnerability management strategies.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the affected Adobe applications, where certain objects remain accessible in memory even after their intended lifecycle has ended. When the application attempts to access these freed memory locations, attackers can manipulate the system to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers fail to properly track object references or when the garbage collection mechanisms within the application fail to prevent access to deallocated memory regions. The exploitability of use-after-free vulnerabilities is particularly high because they can be leveraged to achieve complete system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF document.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed for document processing and viewing. The attack surface is extensive given the prevalence of PDF documents in business communications, making it a prime target for nation-state actors and cybercriminals seeking to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Adobe software face potential data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and persistent threats that could remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to systems, making it particularly dangerous in perimeter defense scenarios.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-3055 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to the latest versions that contain memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes that prioritize critical security updates, particularly those addressing use-after-free vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while monitoring for unusual PDF processing activities may help detect exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes such vulnerabilities under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as exploitation often involves leveraging legitimate user privileges to execute malicious code. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions to ensure compliance with security baselines and prevent exploitation of this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.