CVE-2015-5111 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-2015-5101, CVE-2015-5113, and CVE-2015-5114.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The CVE-2015-5111 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions and platforms. This vulnerability specifically impacts Adobe Reader versions 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, alongside Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 2015.006.30060 and DC Continuous before 2015.008.20082 on both Windows and OS X operating systems. The flaw enables remote code execution through unspecified attack vectors that distinguish it from several other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2015-4448, CVE-2015-5095, CVE-2015-5099, CVE-2015-5101, CVE-2015-5113, and CVE-2015-5114, indicating a unique exploitation pathway within the Adobe Acrobat ecosystem. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of use-after-free conditions, which is classified as a common weakness in software security design patterns. This weakness occurs when a program continues to use a pointer to memory after that memory has been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow through carefully crafted malicious content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory management errors within Adobe's PDF processing libraries where freed memory blocks are still accessible to malicious code. When a PDF document is processed, the application allocates memory for various objects and structures, and upon completion of processing, this memory is freed. However, the flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the application's memory management system such that freed memory can be reused or accessed by malicious code, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution. Attackers typically craft specially designed PDF files that trigger the vulnerable code path during document parsing, causing the application to execute code from the freed memory space. This exploitation technique aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the application level without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF document, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5111 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Organizations running affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and persistent malware installation. The vulnerability affects both enterprise and individual users, as it can be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites that deliver crafted PDF documents. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently in the background, allowing attackers to establish persistent access without user awareness. The affected platforms include both Windows and OS X systems, making it a cross-platform threat that requires comprehensive security measures across different operating environments. Organizations that have not updated their Adobe applications to patched versions remain vulnerable to sophisticated attack campaigns targeting their document processing capabilities. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 emphasizes the need for robust memory management practices and proper code review processes to prevent such issues from occurring in software development lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5111 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and application hardening measures. Adobe released security updates for all affected versions, and organizations should prioritize applying these patches to prevent exploitation. In addition to patch management, security teams should implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized PDF processing applications, while also monitoring for suspicious PDF file behavior. System administrators should consider disabling Adobe Reader's JavaScript execution capabilities in environments where it is not required, as this reduces the attack surface for exploitation. Regular security assessments should include vulnerability scanning for outdated Adobe applications, and organizations should establish automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious PDF attachments and websites. The vulnerability's nature as a use-after-free condition underscores the importance of memory safety in application development, and organizations should consider implementing static code analysis tools to detect similar issues in their own software development processes.