CVE-2017-2944 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, 11.0.18 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability when parsing crafted TIFF image files. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its handling of TIFF image files that affects multiple version ranges including 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management when processing specially crafted TIFF files that contain malformed data structures. The flaw occurs during the parsing of TIFF metadata and image data where the application fails to properly validate array indices and buffer boundaries, leading to heap-based buffer overflows that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly handle integer overflows and unchecked array accesses when processing TIFF image headers and data segments. When a malicious TIFF file is opened, the reader's TIFF parser attempts to allocate memory buffers based on values extracted from the file's metadata without adequate validation of these values against expected ranges. This creates opportunities for attackers to craft TIFF files containing malicious data that causes the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2017-2944 can result in complete system compromise as attackers can execute arbitrary code within the context of the Acrobat Reader process. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-787, out-of-bounds write, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. The attack surface is extensive as TIFF files are commonly used in professional document sharing, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to target systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically follows the standard attack pattern where an attacker crafts a malicious TIFF file containing specially constructed data that triggers the memory corruption when opened by the vulnerable application. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the executed code can establish command and control channels or escalate privileges within the compromised system. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, implement application whitelisting policies, and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious TIFF file handling activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in multimedia processing libraries and the need for robust memory safety mechanisms in document rendering applications.
This vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations due to the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat Reader and the ease with which attackers can deliver malicious TIFF files through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The memory corruption nature of the flaw makes it particularly challenging to detect and prevent, as it can be triggered by legitimate-looking documents that contain hidden malicious content. Security teams should implement multi-layered defenses including email filtering, web proxy scanning, and endpoint protection solutions to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Regular security assessments of document processing applications and timely patch management are essential defensive measures against this and similar vulnerabilities in the Adobe ecosystem.