CVE-2015-5101 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability 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-2015-4448, CVE-2015-5095, CVE-2015-5099, CVE-2015-5111, CVE-2015-5113, and CVE-2015-5114.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe's document processing software that affects multiple versions across different operating systems. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are still referenced by the application after they have been deallocated, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote code execution. The vulnerability impacts Adobe Reader and Acrobat 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 particular flaw operates independently from several other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2015-4448, CVE-2015-5095, CVE-2015-5099, CVE-2015-5111, CVE-2015-5113, and CVE-2015-5114, indicating a distinct attack surface that requires separate mitigation strategies. The vulnerability specifically targets Windows and OS X platforms, making it a cross-platform threat that affects enterprise environments where these applications are commonly deployed.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the Adobe application processes maliciously crafted PDF documents that trigger memory management errors during document rendering or parsing operations. When the application attempts to access memory that has already been freed, attackers can manipulate the memory layout to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. The flaw typically manifests during the processing of complex PDF objects or embedded content where memory allocation and deallocation sequences become corrupted, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory structures with malicious payloads. The exploitation process often involves crafting PDF files that cause the application to free memory blocks while maintaining references to them, enabling attackers to control the execution flow through memory corruption techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially gain persistent access to affected systems, establish command and control channels, and escalate privileges to system-level access. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software like Adobe Reader and Acrobat makes it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where these applications are frequently used to open documents from untrusted sources. Organizations using these applications are at risk of targeted attacks where malicious actors craft PDF documents specifically designed to exploit this memory management flaw. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution without user interaction makes it especially concerning for organizations with limited security controls or those that do not maintain up-to-date patch management processes, as it can be exploited through email attachments or web downloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe applications and operating systems. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat that address this specific use-after-free condition, particularly focusing on the version ranges mentioned in the vulnerability description. System administrators should implement network-based controls such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to prevent potentially malicious documents from reaching end users. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and control communications, with T1070 covering the use of system logs for evasion purposes. Security teams should monitor for unusual process behavior and memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted PDF files can provide an additional layer of defense. Regular security awareness training for end users about the dangers of opening unexpected PDF attachments remains crucial, as social engineering attacks often exploit this vulnerability through phishing campaigns.