CVE-2015-5097 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Integer 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, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5108 and CVE-2015-5109.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5097 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across Windows and macOS platforms. This vulnerability resides within the core processing mechanisms of these document viewers, specifically impacting versions 10.x prior to 10.1.15, 11.x prior to 11.0.12, and various iterations of the Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous releases. The flaw manifests when the software processes certain malformed or crafted PDF files, creating conditions where integer arithmetic operations exceed their defined limits and wrap around to unexpected values. This particular vulnerability is distinct from related issues CVE-2015-5108 and CVE-2015-5109, indicating it operates through different code paths and exploitation vectors.
The technical nature of this integer overflow vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of "Integer Overflow or Wraparound," which represents a well-documented class of software flaws where arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value representable by the target data type. When an integer overflow occurs in memory management contexts, attackers can manipulate the software's behavior to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. In the context of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, this vulnerability exploits the way these applications handle memory allocation and buffer management during PDF parsing operations, particularly when processing complex or maliciously crafted document elements.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5097 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable systems. This capability fundamentally undermines the security model of document viewers, which are designed to safely process untrusted content without compromising system integrity. The vulnerability affects a broad user base including enterprise environments where Adobe Reader remains a primary tool for document viewing, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access or data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can craft PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable applications, trigger the integer overflow condition and subsequently execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the user running the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5097 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe to address the specific integer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected versions are upgraded to the latest secure releases, particularly emphasizing the Windows and macOS platforms where the vulnerability was identified. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing technologies, restricting PDF file execution permissions, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF file patterns or behaviors. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to limit which PDF processing applications can execute on critical systems, reducing the attack surface for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, making it a critical component of enterprise security assessments and incident response planning.