CVE-2015-4446 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 2015.006.30060, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 2015.008.20082 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and perform a transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5090 and CVE-2015-5106.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patches contain a critical integrity escalation vulnerability that allows attackers to bypass intended access controls and elevate their privilege level from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows and OS X platforms. The flaw enables unauthorized users to transition between different security integrity levels, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that could lead to system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an unspecified vector that allows attackers to manipulate the security context of running processes. This type of integrity bypass typically occurs when applications fail to properly validate or enforce security boundaries between different integrity levels. The vulnerability operates at the kernel or system level where security policies are enforced, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to gain elevated privileges without requiring user interaction or specific exploitation conditions. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the security model where the system fails to properly enforce integrity-based access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the ability to perform actions that should be restricted to higher privilege levels. Once an attacker successfully transitions from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity, they can potentially access protected system resources, modify critical files, or execute malicious code with elevated permissions. This vulnerability differs from other related issues such as CVE-2015-5090 and CVE-2015-5106, indicating it operates through distinct attack vectors or exploitation mechanisms. The attack surface is broad given the widespread use of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across enterprise and consumer environments, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe products to the recommended versions. Organizations should ensure all instances of Adobe Reader and Acrobat are updated to versions 10.1.15, 11.0.12, or the corresponding DC versions mentioned in the advisory. System administrators should implement strict update policies and consider deploying automated patch management solutions to ensure all vulnerable systems are protected. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities, making it a critical target for defensive measures. Additionally, network segmentation and application whitelisting policies can help reduce the attack surface by limiting where potentially vulnerable Adobe applications can be installed and executed.