CVE-2017-11293 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. An exploitable memory corruption vulnerability exists. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11293 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This issue manifests in various product versions including 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions, creating a substantial attack surface across the Adobe ecosystem. The flaw resides in the handling of specific file formats processed by these applications, particularly those involving complex data structures that trigger improper memory management during parsing operations. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as exploitable, indicating that malicious actors can leverage it to gain unauthorized control over affected systems.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows as defined by CWE-122, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. When Adobe Acrobat or Reader processes specially crafted malicious files, the application's memory management routines fail to properly validate input data, leading to corrupted memory structures that can be manipulated by attackers. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the software allocates a fixed-size buffer in memory and then attempts to write data that exceeds the buffer's capacity, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten. The exploitation mechanism often involves carefully constructed payloads that can overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or other critical memory structures to redirect program execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11293 extends beyond simple arbitrary code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within compromised environments. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's widespread presence across multiple product versions means that organizations running any of the affected software are at risk, regardless of their specific use case or deployment scenario. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various delivery mechanisms including phishing emails containing malicious PDF attachments, drive-by downloads from compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns targeting end users who regularly interact with PDF documents. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that PDF documents are commonly used in business environments, educational institutions, and government organizations where sensitive information is frequently exchanged.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-11293 should implement immediate mitigations including prompt application of Adobe's security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in the affected versions. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be enhanced to detect and block suspicious PDF attachments, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying document sources before opening potentially malicious files. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous PDF processing activities and potential exploitation attempts, with particular attention to unusual memory access patterns or process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the use of malicious files to gain initial access to systems, and represents a significant risk to enterprise security environments where Adobe Reader is widely deployed. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict PDF processing to trusted applications, conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify unpatched systems, and maintaining comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.