CVE-2017-2981 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 memory corruption vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users of this digital publishing software. This vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw exists within the software's handling of specially crafted digital content files, particularly those involving EPUB or PDF formats that are processed through the application's rendering engine. The vulnerability is classified as a memory safety issue that can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, and potentially complete system compromise when exploited successfully.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within Adobe Digital Editions' document processing components. When the application processes malformed or specially constructed digital publications, it fails to properly validate the size and structure of memory allocations, leading to buffer overflows that can overwrite adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow by overwriting critical memory locations such as return addresses or function pointers. The vulnerability can be triggered through the normal operation of opening or processing digital content files, making it accessible to attackers who might distribute malicious publications through various channels including legitimate content distribution platforms or direct downloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to encompass potential full system compromise and data breach scenarios. An attacker who successfully exploits this memory corruption flaw could gain the ability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running Adobe Digital Editions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, system persistence mechanisms, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that deploy Adobe Digital Editions for digital content management, as compromised systems could serve as entry points for broader network attacks. Given that Adobe Digital Editions is commonly used in educational institutions, libraries, and corporate environments for managing digital publications, the potential attack surface for this vulnerability is substantial.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader exploitation frameworks and attack patterns that target office productivity software and document viewers. The ATT&CK framework categorizes such vulnerabilities under software exploitation techniques, particularly focusing on memory corruption attacks that leverage buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Adobe's security patches, which address the memory management issues in the affected versions. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, application whitelisting, and monitoring for unusual file processing activities can help reduce the risk of exploitation. The CWE database classifies this issue under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which represents a well-known and frequently exploited category of memory safety vulnerabilities in software applications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated Adobe Digital Editions installations to prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption flaw.