CVE-2015-5110 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based 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 stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across Windows and macOS platforms. The vulnerability resides in the handling of unspecified input vectors within the application's memory management routines, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. Such buffer overflow conditions typically occur when programs fail to properly validate input size before copying data into fixed-length memory buffers, allowing malicious actors to manipulate program execution flow through carefully crafted inputs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. This flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it affects widely deployed software used for document processing, making it an attractive target for exploitation in targeted attacks and mass deployment campaigns. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious PDF files or other document formats that trigger the vulnerable code path during document parsing operations.
The operational implications of CVE-2015-5110 extend beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat vector in enterprise environments where Acrobat and Reader are extensively used for document sharing and processing. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy versions and newer DC releases demonstrates the persistence of memory safety issues in complex software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation typically requires initial access through social engineering or drive-by downloads followed by privilege elevation within the compromised system. The vulnerability's exploitation often occurs through phishing campaigns targeting document processing applications, leveraging the trust users place in PDF documents and the automatic execution of embedded content in vulnerable versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected versions to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive software update policies ensuring all instances of Adobe Acrobat and Reader are upgraded to patched versions, specifically targeting the mentioned release numbers that contain the security fixes. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while monitoring for suspicious document handling activities and implementing sandboxing techniques for document processing can reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all potentially affected systems and implement automated patch management solutions to prevent future occurrences of similar memory safety issues in other software components.