CVE-2017-2954 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 in the image conversion module when handling malformed TIFF images. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its image conversion module that specifically affects handling of malformed TIFF image files. This vulnerability exists in multiple version ranges including 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier versions of the software. The flaw occurs when the application processes TIFF images that contain malformed or specially crafted data structures within their metadata or image data fields. This memory corruption issue stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the image parsing routines that handle TIFF format conversion. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow according to CWE-121 and represents a classic memory safety issue that allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code. When a user opens a maliciously crafted TIFF file, the application's image conversion module fails to properly validate the image data structure, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by an attacker to overwrite critical memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks within enterprise environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns by delivering malicious TIFF files via email attachments, web downloads, or removable media. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a TIFF file with malformed data structures that trigger the memory corruption when Acrobat Reader attempts to parse and convert the image for display purposes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through application layer protocols and T1203 for exploitation for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed versions of Acrobat Reader makes it particularly dangerous as organizations often have numerous endpoints running these vulnerable applications. The memory corruption can potentially be exploited to bypass modern security mitigations such as DEP and ASLR through techniques like return-oriented programming or just-in-time code generation.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability across their enterprise environments. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches from Adobe as soon as they become available, which typically include fixes for the memory handling routines in the image conversion module. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted TIFF files or limit the use of Acrobat Reader to trusted environments. Network-based mitigations such as content filtering solutions can help prevent the delivery of malicious TIFF files through email or web traffic. Additionally, security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual file access patterns or network connections that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, as it represents a well-known class of memory corruption flaws that have been documented in numerous security advisories and vulnerability databases. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing to isolate potentially malicious content and reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.