CVE-2017-2973 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.3 and earlier have an exploitable heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.3 and earlier contains a critical heap overflow vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for end users and organizations. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw exists in the application's handling of specially crafted digital content files that are processed during the reading or importing operations within the Digital Editions environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes malformed or maliciously constructed digital publications that trigger improper memory allocation and handling within the heap memory space. Attackers can craft specific file structures that cause the application to allocate insufficient memory buffers while processing content, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This heap overflow represents a classic exploit vector that enables attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the Adobe Digital Editions process, potentially allowing full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access within user environments where Adobe Digital Editions is installed. Organizations that deploy Adobe Digital Editions for document management, educational content distribution, or corporate publishing may find their systems at risk when users open maliciously crafted digital publications. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where Digital Editions is widely deployed for content consumption, making it particularly dangerous in corporate settings where sensitive information is frequently processed through this application.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised Digital Editions process. The remediation strategy should prioritize immediate patching of Adobe Digital Editions to version 4.5.4 or later, which contains the necessary memory boundary checks and heap management improvements. Organizations should also implement network-based controls to prevent access to potentially malicious digital content and consider deploying application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted digital publications within the Digital Editions environment. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted digital documents remains critical in mitigating the broader attack surface associated with this vulnerability.