CVE-2017-11301 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.6 and earlier versions. An exploitable memory corruption vulnerability exists, which could lead to disclosure of memory addresses.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2021
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.6 and earlier contain a memory corruption vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users of this digital publishing software. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and represents a critical concern for system integrity and data protection. The flaw manifests as an exploitable condition that allows attackers to potentially access memory addresses through improper handling of data structures within the application's memory management system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling mechanisms within Adobe Digital Editions. When processing certain malformed or specially crafted input data, the application fails to properly validate memory boundaries and allocation parameters, leading to potential memory corruption scenarios. This type of vulnerability is classified as a memory corruption issue that can result in information disclosure, making it particularly dangerous for environments where sensitive documents or proprietary content are processed. The vulnerability enables attackers to extract memory addresses that could be leveraged in more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as memory address leaks can provide attackers with critical information needed for advanced exploitation methods. Memory addresses exposed through this vulnerability can be used to bypass security mitigations such as address space layout randomization, making subsequent attacks more successful. This vulnerability affects users who process documents through Adobe Digital Editions, particularly in enterprise environments where sensitive corporate information might be stored in digital formats. The risk is amplified because Adobe Digital Editions is commonly used for reading protected content, including e-books and digital publications that may contain confidential information.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to established frameworks such as CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers might leverage memory leaks to develop more effective attack vectors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.7 or later, which contains patches addressing this memory corruption issue. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure, while regular security assessments should monitor for similar memory handling flaws in other software components.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper memory management in software development practices. This issue demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation gaps can create significant security risks, particularly in applications that handle sensitive digital content. Organizations should prioritize regular security updates and maintain comprehensive patch management processes to address such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust software security practices and the importance of thorough testing of memory handling mechanisms in applications that process external data inputs.