CVE-2017-11249 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 parsing an invalid Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) record. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2024
This vulnerability exists within Adobe Acrobat Reader's image conversion engine which processes Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) records. The flaw manifests when the software encounters invalid EMF records during the parsing process, specifically within the handling of metafile data structures. The memory corruption occurs due to improper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms within the image processing pipeline. Attackers can craft malicious EMF files that trigger this vulnerability when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, leading to potential arbitrary code execution on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of EMF record structures during the conversion process. When the image engine attempts to parse malformed EMF data, it fails to properly validate the size and structure of the metafile records, allowing for buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a widely used document reader application that users frequently open without suspicion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The attack vector is particularly insidious as it can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or other social engineering techniques. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader across different release cycles, indicating a persistent flaw in the image processing implementation that was not adequately addressed in the affected software versions. The widespread adoption of Adobe Reader makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to maximize their attack surface.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted EMF files and consider deploying sandboxing solutions to contain potential exploitation attempts. Network-based defenses such as intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for known malicious EMF file patterns, though this approach has limitations given the sophisticated nature of such attacks. Regular security assessments should include verification of Adobe Reader installations and enforcement of security policies that prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against multiple attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing email filtering solutions that can identify and quarantine suspicious document attachments that may contain malicious EMF content, aligning with the principle of least privilege execution and reducing the attack surface exposed to potential exploitation.