CVE-2015-5583 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 2015.006.30094, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 2015.009.20069 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to bypass intended sandbox restrictions and obtain sensitive PDF information by launching a print job on a remote printer, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6705, CVE-2015-6706, and CVE-2015-7624.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 10.1.16 and 11.0.13 respectively, along with specific versions of Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous, contain a critical sandbox bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions. This vulnerability specifically manifests when a malicious PDF document triggers a print job to a remote printer, exploiting a flaw in the application's handling of print operations that should normally be restricted within the sandbox environment. The flaw represents a distinct issue from other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-6705, CVE-2015-6706, and CVE-2015-7624, which indicates this vulnerability operates through different attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms. The technical nature of this flaw falls under CWE-250, which encompasses "Execution of Code with Unusual/Unconventional Privilege Level" and CWE-264, addressing "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" within software security frameworks. This vulnerability enables attackers to access sensitive PDF information that should normally be protected by the sandbox restrictions, effectively allowing unauthorized data extraction and potential privilege escalation within the application's security boundaries. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a method to bypass the fundamental security model that Adobe implemented to protect users from malicious PDF content.
The exploitation of CVE-2015-5583 requires a specific attack scenario involving a malicious PDF document that when processed by the vulnerable Adobe applications, triggers a print operation to a remote printer. This particular attack vector leverages the fact that the application's print handling code does not properly enforce sandbox restrictions when communicating with remote printer services, allowing the malicious code to escape the restricted execution environment. The vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the application's privilege separation model, where the print subsystem operates with elevated privileges that should not be accessible to untrusted PDF content. This issue affects both Windows and OS X platforms, indicating a cross-platform security flaw in Adobe's implementation of the sandboxing mechanism. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of print system commands to execute malicious code, and T1070.004, concerning the use of system binary to bypass security controls. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed, as it could enable attackers to access sensitive corporate documents and potentially escalate privileges within the application's security model.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on patch management and application hardening. The most effective remediation involves updating to the patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically versions 10.1.16 and 11.0.13 for the respective major versions, along with the corresponding DC Classic and Continuous updates. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as disabling the print functionality for untrusted PDF documents, restricting access to remote printers from within the Adobe application, and monitoring for unusual print job patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-level controls including firewall rules that limit access to print servers from user workstations and implementing application whitelisting policies can further reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should focus on detecting abnormal print job behavior, particularly those involving remote printer connections, as these activities may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database emphasizes its significance in enterprise security contexts, requiring immediate attention from security teams responsible for protecting organizational assets from advanced persistent threats that may leverage such sandbox bypass mechanisms.