CVE-2015-4451 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 JavaScript API execution restrictions via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-4435, CVE-2015-4438, CVE-2015-4441, CVE-2015-4445, CVE-2015-4447, CVE-2015-4452, CVE-2015-5085, and CVE-2015-5086.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patches contain a critical vulnerability that allows attackers to circumvent JavaScript API execution restrictions through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, as well as various Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous versions. The flaw represents a significant bypass of security controls that are designed to restrict potentially dangerous JavaScript operations within the Adobe Acrobat environment. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-4435 through CVE-2015-5086, this issue operates through distinct mechanisms that exploit weaknesses in the JavaScript sandbox implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets the execution restrictions imposed on JavaScript APIs, which are essential for preventing malicious code from accessing system resources or performing unauthorized operations within the application context. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code with elevated privileges that would normally be restricted by the application's security model. The impact extends across both Windows and OS X operating systems, indicating a platform-agnostic nature to the vulnerability. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses related to inadequate protection of system resources, and represents a significant concern for organizations that rely on Adobe Acrobat products for document processing and viewing. The attack vector likely involves crafting malicious PDF documents that exploit the JavaScript API bypass to execute malicious payloads, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat products face elevated risk of targeted attacks that could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls and execute unauthorized code. The vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern application security where seemingly minor flaws in API restriction mechanisms can create substantial attack surfaces. This issue underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defensive measures. The vulnerability may map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation, representing potential attack paths that adversaries could exploit to gain deeper system access. Security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems and consider implementing additional controls such as application whitelisting and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenge of securing complex software applications where JavaScript sandboxing mechanisms must balance functionality with security requirements. Organizations should also evaluate their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this type of vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of Adobe Acrobat product versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The presence of multiple affected product versions across different release lines indicates that this vulnerability may have persisted across development cycles, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and quality assurance processes in software development. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely patch management and the potential consequences of running outdated software in enterprise environments.