CVE-2017-11261 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 and the embedded TIF image. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
This vulnerability resides within Adobe Acrobat Reader's image conversion engine, specifically when processing Enhanced Metafile Format files containing private data and embedded TIF images. The flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The 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. The technical implementation involves improper handling of memory allocation and data processing within the EMF private data parsing routine, which creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted malicious files.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows a typical memory corruption attack pattern where an attacker crafts a specially formatted EMF file with embedded TIF images containing malicious data. When the vulnerable reader processes this file, the image conversion engine fails to properly validate input data, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. This allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and potentially inject or redirect execution flow to malicious code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows, both of which are common entry points for privilege escalation attacks. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple document opening, making it ideal for phishing attacks and remote code execution scenarios.
The impact of successful exploitation extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, or further network reconnaissance. The vulnerability's placement within the image conversion engine means that even documents that appear benign can contain malicious payloads, making detection and prevention challenging. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping software updated and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as it operates at a layer where traditional endpoint protection may not detect malicious activity. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under the execution phase, specifically targeting application layer vulnerabilities that allow for arbitrary code execution through document processing components. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and consider implementing additional controls such as application whitelisting and email filtering to reduce the attack surface.
This vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenge of securing document processing applications, where complex file format parsers create numerous potential attack vectors. The memory corruption nature of the flaw makes it particularly attractive to attackers as it can be reliably exploited across different platforms and operating systems. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious document processing activities and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by Adobe Reader's widespread adoption, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to maximize their attack reach. Organizations must also consider the broader implications for their security posture, as exploitation of this vulnerability could provide attackers with a foothold for more extensive network intrusions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should include specific attention to document processing components, as these often represent overlooked attack vectors in enterprise security architectures.