CVE-2015-5104 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-2015-5100, CVE-2015-5102, CVE-2015-5103, and CVE-2015-5115.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patches contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions including Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, as well as various Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous versions released in 2015. The flaw resides in how the software processes certain malformed input within PDF documents, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within Adobe's PDF parsing libraries, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to craft malicious PDF files that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability typically manifests when the application attempts to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries or access invalid memory locations during PDF document processing. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths exist within the parsing logic, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may be exploitable through various document elements including embedded objects, streams, or complex formatting structures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing, as it can be exploited through simple PDF file delivery via email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The memory corruption aspect means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are typical characteristics of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The attack surface is particularly broad given that PDF documents are commonly used across all business sectors and are often automatically opened by default applications.
The impact extends beyond immediate exploitation potential to include persistent security risks in enterprise environments where PDF processing is frequent and automated. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive documents, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks once initial exploitation occurs. The vulnerability's relationship to other CVEs in the same year indicates a pattern of memory corruption issues within Adobe's PDF processing components, suggesting that attackers may have developed multiple exploitation techniques targeting similar weaknesses. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving execution through compromised applications and privilege escalation, with potential for lateral movement through compromised user sessions.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions, with particular attention to the specific build numbers mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should implement additional controls such as PDF sandboxing features, restricted file type handling, and network-based filtering of PDF documents from untrusted sources. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unpatched Adobe applications and establish monitoring for suspicious PDF-related activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates the critical nature of timely vulnerability remediation in preventing widespread exploitation across enterprise networks.