CVE-2017-2977 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.3 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption 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 memory corruption vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users of the software. This vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflow as identified by the CWE-122 classification, where insufficient memory bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes maliciously crafted content, particularly within digital book files or documents that leverage the software's rendering capabilities. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the application's parsing routines for ebook formats, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through crafted file structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the user's session, representing a severe privilege escalation risk. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, this vulnerability allows for command and scripting interpreter execution, while T1203 covers exploitation for privilege escalation through memory corruption techniques. Attackers can leverage this flaw by preparing specially crafted ebook files that, when opened by the vulnerable Adobe Digital Editions application, trigger the memory corruption. The corrupted memory state can then be manipulated to redirect program execution flow to attacker-controlled code, potentially allowing full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2977 extends beyond individual user systems to encompass enterprise environments where Adobe Digital Editions might be deployed for digital content distribution. Organizations using this software for managing digital libraries, educational materials, or corporate publications face heightened risk of targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability. The vulnerability affects the software's core functionality of processing digital content, making it particularly dangerous as legitimate users may unknowingly trigger the exploit while performing routine operations such as opening digital books or documents. Additionally, the vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly concerning for phishing attacks or malicious content distribution through compromised digital content repositories.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.4 or later, which contains patches addressing this memory corruption flaw. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable versions, while network security controls such as intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-122 emphasizes the need for proper memory bounds checking and input validation in software development practices. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the exploitation typically manifests through unusual memory access patterns and process behavior that can be detected by security monitoring tools. Regular security assessments of digital content management systems and proper software inventory management are essential to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the broader digital ecosystem.