CVE-2017-11306 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, 11.0.22 and earlier have an exploitable out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability resides in the handling of PDF file structures and occurs when the software processes malformed or specially crafted PDF documents. The flaw allows an attacker to trigger memory access beyond the bounds of allocated buffers, potentially leading to information disclosure or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow condition that manifests during the parsing of specific PDF elements, particularly those involving font handling or embedded object processing. This issue represents a classic example of a memory safety vulnerability that has been consistently observed in document processing software due to insufficient input validation and boundary checking mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PDF file that triggers the specific parsing path containing the out-of-bounds read condition. When a user opens such a crafted document, the application's PDF parser attempts to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially causing the application to crash or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125 - Out-of-bounds Read, which is categorized as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been extensively documented in the software security community. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because PDF readers are widely used across enterprise environments and personal computing platforms, making successful exploitation a significant threat vector.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations that rely on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing. The exploitability of this flaw means that a simple email attachment or web download could result in complete system compromise without requiring any additional user interaction beyond opening the malicious document. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version lines including the 2017, 2015, and 11.0.22 releases indicates that this was a persistent issue affecting Adobe's product lineage. Security analysts have mapped this vulnerability to attack patterns in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically categorizing it under initial access and execution phases where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized code execution. The risk assessment for this vulnerability typically rates it as high severity due to the combination of ease of exploitation and potential for privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including prompt application of Adobe's security patches and updates, which address the specific buffer handling issues in the affected versions. System administrators should consider implementing PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious documents. Additional protective measures include restricting user privileges when opening PDF files, implementing network-based security controls to filter malicious PDF content, and conducting regular security assessments of document processing workflows. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and the critical need for regular security hygiene practices. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to educate users about the risks of opening unexpected PDF attachments and the importance of verifying document sources before processing.