CVE-2017-11255 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 TIFF color map data. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its image conversion engine that specifically affects TIFF color map data processing. This vulnerability resides within the software's handling of raster image formats and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw manifests when the application processes specially crafted TIFF files containing malformed color map data, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that adversaries can manipulate for code execution. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader across different release cycles, including the 2017, 2015, and older 11.0.x series, indicating this represents a persistent flaw in the image processing pipeline that has remained unaddressed across multiple software iterations. The memory corruption occurs during the conversion process when the application attempts to interpret color mapping information within TIFF files, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it may also exhibit characteristics of heap-based corruption depending on the specific memory layout during processing. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with a means to bypass security controls and potentially escalate privileges within the victim's system. When exploited successfully, adversaries can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable Adobe Acrobat Reader application, which typically runs with standard user permissions but can still provide a foothold for further attacks. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Adobe Acrobat Reader is widely deployed across enterprise environments and individual user systems, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking persistent access. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the user to open a maliciously crafted TIFF file, which aligns with common social engineering tactics such as phishing campaigns or compromised websites. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious file sharing platforms. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the color map processing routines, where the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of color table data before attempting to copy it into internal buffers. The flaw represents a significant weakness in Adobe's image processing architecture and demonstrates the complexity of handling diverse raster image formats within commercial software applications. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader should immediately implement patch management procedures to update to the latest versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include not only applying security patches but also implementing user education programs to avoid opening suspicious files and deploying network security controls to monitor for malicious TIFF file transfers. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of untrusted PDF and image files in enterprise environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper software security testing, particularly for image processing components that handle untrusted input data. From a threat actor perspective, this vulnerability provides a reliable means of achieving remote code execution against unpatched systems, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat groups and cybercriminal organizations. The combination of widespread software deployment and the relatively simple exploitation method makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world attack scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for PDF processing and image viewing applications to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple software versions suggests that the underlying architectural issues have not been fully addressed, requiring ongoing vigilance and continuous security monitoring for similar flaws in related components. This represents a clear example of how legacy code vulnerabilities can persist across software releases and underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for all software components in enterprise environments. The exploitability of this vulnerability demonstrates the need for comprehensive security testing of all input processing functions, particularly those handling complex multimedia data formats that are commonly encountered in business and personal computing environments.