CVE-2015-5586 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6683, CVE-2015-6684, CVE-2015-6687, CVE-2015-6688, CVE-2015-6689, CVE-2015-6690, CVE-2015-6691, CVE-2015-7615, CVE-2015-7617, and CVE-2015-7621.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
This use-after-free vulnerability exists in Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions and operating systems, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects where freed memory regions are still accessed by the application, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The affected versions include Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, along with specific DC Classic and DC Continuous releases that were vulnerable prior to their respective patch levels. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that differ from other contemporaneous vulnerabilities in the same product line, indicating a distinct code path or memory management issue within the affected applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on affected systems, potentially enabling full system compromise. The memory corruption aspect means that attackers can manipulate freed memory blocks to redirect program execution or inject malicious code, leveraging the application's trust in its own memory management. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where legitimate application functionality becomes a vector for malicious code delivery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across Windows and OS X platforms, affecting a broad user base that relies on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face significant risk of exploitation through various attack vectors including malicious PDF files delivered via email, web downloads, or compromised websites. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous DC versions indicates a widespread issue affecting different Adobe product delivery models. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform privilege escalation, establish persistent access, or deploy additional malware, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors and cybercriminals seeking to compromise enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to versions 10.1.16, 11.0.13, and their respective DC releases. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce attack surface. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. Additional controls including privileged account protection, application whitelisting, and regular security assessments can provide defense-in-depth. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through crafted PDF documents, emphasizing the need for comprehensive email security solutions and user education regarding suspicious file attachments. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be maintained to prevent similar issues in the future, with particular attention to memory management practices in document processing applications.