CVE-2017-3023 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, 15.023.20070 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the JPEG 2000 code-stream tile functionality. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability within its JPEG 2000 code-stream tile processing functionality that affects multiple version ranges including 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, and 15.023.20070 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed JPEG 2000 image data structures during the tile decoding process, creating conditions where memory can be overwritten or accessed in unintended ways. The flaw manifests when the application processes specially crafted JPEG 2000 files that contain malformed tile data, leading to buffer overflows or heap corruption that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability operates through a classic memory corruption attack vector where an attacker crafts a malicious PDF document containing malformed JPEG 2000 data that triggers the vulnerable code path during document rendering. When the affected Adobe Reader application attempts to decode the JPEG 2000 tile data, it fails to properly validate the input boundaries, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with controlled data. This memory corruption can be leveraged to manipulate program execution flow, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Adobe Reader remains a commonly used PDF viewer. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns targeting users who open malicious PDF documents, potentially leading to full system compromise when combined with other attack techniques. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with persistent access to victim systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader installations across all supported versions, as Adobe released security updates addressing this specific memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict document handling policies that restrict PDF file attachments from untrusted sources and consider deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate PDF processing activities. Network-based defenses should include content filtering systems that can detect and block known malicious PDF patterns, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious memory access patterns. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify unpatched systems and implement automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.