CVE-2015-5093 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across Windows and macOS platforms. The issue stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the software's handling of malformed data structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory allocation and execution flow. The vulnerability affects Adobe Reader versions 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, along with specific versions of Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes classic buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The security implications are severe as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that typically involve crafting malicious PDF files or manipulating data within PDF documents to trigger the buffer overflow condition. When the vulnerable software processes these malformed inputs, the insufficient bounds checking causes data to overflow into adjacent memory regions, potentially overwriting critical program structures such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption enables attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code payloads injected into the memory space. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, making successful exploitation potentially impactful at scale. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Windows Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can leverage software flaws to execute malicious commands through compromised applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential data breaches, system persistence mechanisms, and lateral movement capabilities within compromised networks. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe software face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple software versions and release channels indicates a systemic issue in Adobe's input validation processes, requiring immediate remediation efforts. Security teams must prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems while implementing additional defensive measures such as PDF content filtering and application whitelisting. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management procedures, as the exploitation of such flaws often occurs within days or weeks of public disclosure. Organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing Adobe software vulnerabilities. The widespread deployment of Adobe Reader and Acrobat makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise with potential access to sensitive corporate or personal data.