CVE-2017-11271 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) data related to transfer of pixel blocks. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles including 2017.009.20058 and earlier, 2017.008.30051 and earlier, 2015.006.30306 and earlier, and 11.0.20 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the image conversion engine specifically when processing Enhanced Metafile Format EMF data, particularly during the transfer of pixel blocks. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the software fails to properly validate the size and boundaries of pixel block data during EMF image processing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary code execution when exploited successfully. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious EMF file that triggers improper memory handling during the pixel block transfer process, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on targeted systems. The memory corruption occurs within the image conversion engine's handling of EMF data structures, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Adobe Acrobat Reader is widely deployed for document viewing, as it can be triggered through simple document opening operations. The exploitability is high due to the nature of EMF files which are commonly used in Windows environments and often embedded in various document formats, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges indicates a persistent flaw in the software's image processing pipeline that was not adequately addressed across different release cycles.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch management and operational security controls. Organizations must prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper bounds checking and memory management improvements. The recommended approach includes implementing automated patch deployment systems to ensure all endpoints receive updates promptly. Network-based mitigations such as email filtering and web proxy controls can help prevent the delivery of malicious EMF files through common attack vectors. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted documents and should be trained to recognize potential phishing attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious EMF file processing activities and anomalous memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates comprehensive network segmentation and privileged access controls to limit the potential impact should exploitation occur. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies for document processing and regular security assessments to identify other potential vulnerabilities in similar software components.