CVE-2017-11227 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat Reader 2017.009.20058 and earlier, 2017.008.30051 and earlier, 2015.006.30306 and earlier, and 11.0.20 and earlier has an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the image conversion engine when processing Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) private data. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11227 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Adobe Acrobat Reader's image conversion engine that specifically targets Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) private data processing. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader including 2017.009.20058 and earlier, 2017.008.30051 and earlier, 2015.006.30306 and earlier, and 11.0.20 and earlier versions, making it a widespread concern across various product releases. The flaw resides in the software's handling of EMF private data structures, which are used to store device-independent vector graphics and metafile information within the application's rendering pipeline.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the image conversion engine component of Adobe Acrobat Reader. When processing EMF files containing maliciously crafted private data, the application fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocation limits, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that enable arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing of EMF private data sections where the application attempts to convert or process image data without adequate bounds checking, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical program structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as successful exploitation enables attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the Adobe Acrobat Reader application. This means that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain complete control over the victim's system, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further lateral movement within a network. The attack vector typically involves tricking a user into opening a specially crafted EMF file, either through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. Given the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat Reader across enterprise environments and individual users, the potential attack surface is enormous, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous from a cybersecurity perspective.
From a threat modeling standpoint, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the arbitrary code execution capability allows for further exploitation once initial access is achieved. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a malicious file, making it suitable for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software updated and implementing robust input validation mechanisms, particularly in applications that process untrusted file formats. The recommended mitigations include immediate patching of affected versions, implementing application whitelisting policies, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider restricting user permissions when opening potentially malicious files and implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts.