CVE-2017-11272 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.4 and earlier has a security bypass vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.4 and earlier contain a security bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to circumvent intended access controls and authentication mechanisms within the software. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of digital rights management (DRM) protections and authentication tokens, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to access protected digital content without proper authorization. The flaw exists in the application's handling of license validation and content decryption processes, where proper verification checks are either missing or inadequately implemented. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the software's internal state, effectively bypassing the DRM enforcement mechanisms that are designed to prevent unauthorized copying, sharing, or access to protected publications.
The technical implementation of this security bypass occurs through manipulation of the application's license validation routines and content access controls. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific inputs or modifying application behavior to skip required authentication steps or license verification processes. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the software's digital rights management infrastructure, where the system fails to properly validate user credentials or license entitlements before granting access to protected content. The flaw represents a critical weakness in the software's access control model and can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct manipulation of application state or injection of malformed license data. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to insufficient access control validation mechanisms and improper privilege management. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes legitimate credentials exploitation, as attackers can bypass authentication controls to gain unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized content access, as it fundamentally undermines the integrity of the digital rights management system that Adobe Digital Editions employs to protect publishers' intellectual property. Organizations and individuals who rely on Adobe Digital Editions for accessing protected publications face significant risk of content piracy and unauthorized distribution, potentially resulting in financial losses for content creators and publishers. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of affected Adobe Digital Editions versions, making it a widespread concern that impacts legitimate users who may unknowingly expose themselves to exploitation. Security assessments indicate that this vulnerability can be exploited remotely through various attack scenarios, including malicious software installation or network-based attacks that target the application's DRM subsystem. The risk is particularly concerning given that many users may not be aware of the security implications or may not have updated their software to patched versions, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe to address the underlying access control flaws in the digital rights management implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive software update policies to ensure all instances of Adobe Digital Editions are running patched versions that address the security bypass vulnerability. Additionally, security monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts or abnormal behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unpatched versions of the software. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper patch management procedures to prevent exploitation of known security flaws. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running unpatched versions of Adobe Digital Editions and remediate these instances promptly. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors that could be used to exploit this vulnerability, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users may be accessing protected content through shared systems.