CVE-2017-11232 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 when processing Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) data related to brush manipulation. 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-2017-11232 represents a critical use after free flaw in Adobe Acrobat Reader affecting multiple versions including 2017.009.20058 and earlier, 2017.008.30051 and earlier, 2015.006.30306 and earlier, and 11.0.20 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing Enhanced Metafile Format EMF data, particularly during brush manipulation operations within the graphics rendering pipeline. The flaw stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are subsequently accessed or reused without proper validation, creating a condition that adversaries can exploit to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Acrobat Reader's handling of EMF graphics data structures, where brush manipulation operations fail to properly validate memory references after memory deallocation. When an attacker crafts malicious EMF files containing specially constructed brush data, the reader's graphics processing engine attempts to access memory that has already been freed, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in memory management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through malicious document processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11232 is severe given the widespread deployment of Adobe Acrobat Reader across enterprise environments and individual users. Successful exploitation enables attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on target systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no user interaction beyond opening a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks where adversaries can deliver malicious EMF files through email attachments or web downloads. Organizations running affected versions of Acrobat Reader face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11232 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat Reader installations to the latest available versions that contain memory management fixes for the EMF processing functionality. Network administrators should implement document filtering measures to block or quarantine EMF files from untrusted sources, while security teams should monitor for suspicious document opening activities. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening unknown or unexpected document attachments, and organizations should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing to contain potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a critical security issue underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in document processing applications.