CVE-2017-11231 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 use after free vulnerability in Acrobat/Reader rendering engine. 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-2017-11231 represents a critical use after free flaw within Adobe Acrobat Reader's rendering engine that affects multiple versions of the software including 2017.009.20058 and earlier, 2017.008.30051 and earlier, 2015.006.30306 and earlier, and 11.0.20 and earlier. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the program's behavior through carefully crafted input files. The flaw exists within the core rendering engine responsible for processing pdf documents, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by opening a maliciously crafted pdf file. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use after free conditions, and represents a fundamental memory management error that has been documented in numerous security advisories over the years.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system, which constitutes a severe security risk that can lead to complete system compromise. When a user opens a specially crafted pdf document, the vulnerable rendering engine processes the file and inadvertently accesses memory that has already been deallocated, enabling attackers to overwrite critical memory locations with malicious code. This type of exploitation aligns with the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of code injection, specifically targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities. The use after free condition creates a predictable memory layout that attackers can leverage to inject and execute their payload, often resulting in privilege escalation or complete system control. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no user interaction beyond opening the document, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11231 extends beyond individual system compromise to affect enterprise environments where pdf documents are frequently shared and opened. Organizations that rely heavily on pdf document processing, including financial institutions, government agencies, and legal firms, face significant risk from this vulnerability as attackers can exploit it to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's widespread presence across multiple versions of Adobe Reader means that many organizations may be affected, and the lack of user interaction requirements makes it particularly difficult to defend against through traditional user awareness training. Security teams must consider the implications of this vulnerability in their overall threat landscape, as it can serve as an initial access vector for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to data breaches, insider threats, or lateral movement within networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the latest security patches from Adobe, which are available through the Adobe Security Bulletins and the Adobe Download Center. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of untrusted pdf files, particularly in high-security environments where the risk of targeted attacks is elevated. Network-based mitigations such as pdf content filtering and sandboxing solutions can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should include verification of Adobe Reader installations to ensure all systems are updated to patched versions, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping software updated and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the attack surface for memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider transitioning to more secure document processing solutions or implementing strict access controls for pdf document handling to minimize exposure to such threats.