CVE-2015-3074 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 bypass intended restrictions on JavaScript API execution via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3060, CVE-2015-3061, CVE-2015-3062, CVE-2015-3063, CVE-2015-3064, CVE-2015-3065, CVE-2015-3066, CVE-2015-3067, CVE-2015-3068, CVE-2015-3069, CVE-2015-3071, CVE-2015-3072, and CVE-2015-3073.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 10.x prior to 10.1.14 and 11.x prior to 11.0.11 contain a security vulnerability that allows attackers to circumvent intended JavaScript API execution restrictions on both Windows and macOS operating systems. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw separate from multiple related issues identified in the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2015-3060 through CVE-2015-3073 which addressed different aspects of the JavaScript sandboxing mechanism. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that permit unauthorized execution of JavaScript APIs within the restricted environment, potentially enabling malicious actors to perform actions that should be prohibited by the application's security controls. This issue primarily affects the JavaScript execution environment within Adobe's document processing framework, where the security boundaries that normally isolate potentially dangerous operations are weakened or bypassed entirely.
The technical flaw manifests in how Adobe Reader and Acrobat handle JavaScript API permissions within their sandboxed execution environment. When processing PDF documents, these applications maintain a restricted JavaScript context that should prevent access to sensitive system functions and APIs that could compromise the underlying operating system. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to exploit unspecified vectors that effectively disable or bypass these security restrictions, enabling execution of JavaScript code that can access restricted APIs. This bypass mechanism operates at the application level rather than the operating system level, leveraging weaknesses in the permission checking logic that governs JavaScript execution within the PDF viewer context. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it undermines the fundamental security model that protects users from malicious PDF content that might attempt to exploit system resources or execute unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the Adobe Reader or Acrobat application. This could lead to complete system compromise if the application is running with elevated privileges or if the attacker can leverage the bypassed JavaScript execution to deliver additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects users who open malicious PDF documents, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks where attackers craft PDF files designed to exploit this specific weakness. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability could be combined with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack vectors, potentially allowing for privilege escalation, information disclosure, or system persistence mechanisms. The impact is particularly severe on Windows systems where Adobe Reader typically runs with user-level privileges but still has access to system resources that could be abused.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 10.1.14 and 11.0.11 respectively to address this vulnerability, as these releases contain patches that restore proper JavaScript API execution restrictions. System administrators should implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to mitigate potential exploitation attempts while waiting for updates to be deployed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-254 in that it represents a weakness in the security model of the application's JavaScript execution environment, specifically concerning inadequate access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution of malicious code within sandboxed environments, potentially enabling later stages of the attack chain such as lateral movement or data exfiltration. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls including email filtering, web application firewalls, and endpoint detection systems to provide defense-in-depth against exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.