CVE-2015-5091 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 cause a denial of service via invalid data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patched releases contain a denial of service vulnerability that stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the software's document processing engine. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including the legacy 10.x and 11.x series, as well as the Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous editions from 2015. The flaw manifests when the application encounters malformed or invalid data structures during PDF document parsing, leading to unexpected application termination or system instability. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read condition where the software attempts to process data beyond its allocated memory boundaries, resulting in system crashes and service unavailability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of malformed PDF objects and streams within the Adobe Acrobat rendering engine. When processing specially crafted PDF files containing invalid data structures, the application fails to properly validate the integrity of the document's internal data structures before attempting to parse them. This lack of proper validation creates an execution path where the software's parser attempts to access memory locations that are either unallocated or contain corrupted data, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through simple document manipulation without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations that rely on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing and sharing. The denial of service condition can disrupt business operations when users attempt to open legitimate PDF documents, leading to productivity losses and potential security incidents. The vulnerability affects both Windows and OS X platforms, indicating a widespread impact across different operating environments. Organizations may experience cascading effects when multiple users encounter the vulnerability simultaneously, potentially overwhelming help desk resources and creating widespread disruption. The attack surface is broad as any user with access to potentially malicious PDF files could trigger the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where document sharing is common.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including prompt application of the vendor-provided patches and updates for all affected Adobe products. Organizations should also consider implementing document sanitization processes that scan PDF files before opening them in Acrobat or Reader applications. Network-level protections such as content filtering systems can help prevent the delivery of potentially malicious PDF files to end users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a variant of the broader category of memory safety issues. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a larger attack chain where initial access is established through other means, with the denial of service serving as a secondary vector to maintain access or disrupt operations. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening untrusted PDF documents and the importance of keeping software updated.