CVE-2015-3075 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-2015-3055, and CVE-2015-3059.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The CVE-2015-3075 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 a dangerous scenario for exploitation. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through unspecified vectors, making it particularly insidious as the exact attack surface remains partially obscured from public disclosure. Unlike related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-3053, CVE-2015-3054, CVE-2015-3055, and CVE-2015-3059, this particular vulnerability maintains its distinct exploitation characteristics while sharing the broader category of memory corruption issues that plague document processing applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe's PDF processing engine, where objects are freed from memory but references to these objects persist in the application's memory space. When the application attempts to access these freed memory locations, attackers can manipulate the system to redirect execution flow, typically through controlled data manipulation that causes the application to jump to attacker-controlled code. This exploitation technique aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 sub-technique, which covers the use of scripting languages for code execution, as attackers often leverage PDF documents containing malicious JavaScript or embedded code to trigger the vulnerable memory operations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, creating numerous potential attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3075 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise capabilities, particularly in environments where Adobe Reader is frequently used for document processing. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, establish persistence mechanisms, or deploy additional malware payloads through the compromised application. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often just opening a malicious PDF document, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as the compromised application can serve as a foothold for more extensive attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3075 primarily focus on immediate software updates and security configuration hardening. Adobe released patches for versions 10.1.14 and 11.0.11 that address the specific memory management issues causing the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader usage is prevalent. Additional defensive measures include implementing Adobe Reader sandboxing features, restricting PDF document access to trusted sources, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF-related network traffic patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a high-risk issue by security vendors like the National Vulnerability Database and MITRE's Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database underscores the importance of proactive remediation. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted PDF documents, as well as regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this and related vulnerabilities.