CVE-2015-5100 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 execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3095, CVE-2015-5087, CVE-2015-5094, CVE-2015-5102, CVE-2015-5103, CVE-2015-5104, and CVE-2015-5115.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to the specified patched releases contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including the classic DC versions and various 10.x and 11.x releases across both Windows and macOS operating systems. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that differ from several other contemporaneous vulnerabilities in the same advisory, indicating a distinct exploitation pathway within the Adobe Acrobat parsing engine.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling during the processing of maliciously crafted PDF documents. When a user opens or interacts with a specially crafted PDF file, the vulnerable application fails to properly validate memory allocations and deallocations, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, or CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common in memory corruption exploits. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate memory pointers and control execution flow through buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The memory corruption can result in application crashes or more dangerous scenarios where attackers can inject and execute malicious code within the context of the Acrobat process. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, making it a prime target for phishing attacks and targeted exploitation campaigns. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous DC versions demonstrates the widespread nature of the flaw across Adobe's product portfolio.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions to mitigate this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and PDF document filtering to reduce exposure while patches are deployed. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreters. Additional mitigations include disabling PDF viewing in web browsers, implementing strict email filtering, and monitoring for suspicious PDF file access patterns. Given the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities, regular system updates and vulnerability assessments are essential to maintain protection against similar flaws that may be discovered in the future.