CVE-2017-2965 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 engine, related to TIFF file parsing. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2965 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Adobe Acrobat Reader's image conversion engine specifically affecting TIFF file parsing operations. This vulnerability manifests in multiple product versions including Acrobat Reader 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier releases. The flaw exists within the software's handling of image conversion processes when processing TIFF format files, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling during the parsing of TIFF image files within the Acrobat Reader application. When the software processes malformed or specially crafted TIFF files, the image conversion engine fails to properly validate input data, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption typically occurs through buffer overflow or underflow conditions that allow attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to code injection and privilege escalation through software exploitation. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a remote code execution vulnerability, as attackers can craft malicious TIFF files that, when opened by an affected Acrobat Reader version, trigger the exploitable condition without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2965 extends beyond simple system compromise, as successful exploitation can result in complete system control by adversaries. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can execute malicious code with the privileges of the Acrobat Reader process, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects organizations across multiple sectors including government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure where Acrobat Reader is commonly used for document processing. The remote nature of the exploit means that adversaries can deliver malicious TIFF files through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, making the attack surface particularly wide. Organizations running affected versions of Acrobat Reader face significant risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where document processing is frequent and security controls may be insufficient.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2965 should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent automatic opening of TIFF files from untrusted sources and consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of potentially malicious files. Network-based security controls including web proxies and email filtering systems should be configured to block or scan TIFF file attachments. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for document processing and regular security assessments to identify systems running outdated versions of the software. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening unknown or unexpected document attachments, particularly in phishing scenarios where TIFF files may be used as delivery mechanisms for malware. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated exploitation techniques that target commonly used applications like Adobe Acrobat Reader.