CVE-2017-3024 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 when manipulating PDF annotations. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2020
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that arises during the processing of PDF annotations, specifically affecting versions up to 11.0.19, 15.006.30280, and 15.023.20070. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of annotation objects within PDF documents, where the application fails to properly validate memory boundaries when processing malformed or crafted annotation data. The flaw manifests as a buffer overflow condition that occurs when the software attempts to manipulate annotation properties, leading to unpredictable memory corruption patterns. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as heap-based buffer overflow, which represents a common class of memory safety issues in software applications that process untrusted data. The vulnerability exists in the annotation parsing component of the PDF processing engine, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to craft malicious PDF files that trigger the memory corruption when opened or interacted with in the reader application.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially designed PDF document containing malformed annotation data that, when processed by the vulnerable Acrobat Reader, causes memory corruption. The attack vector typically involves a user opening a malicious PDF file, either through social engineering tactics or direct delivery methods such as email attachments or compromised websites. During the rendering process, the application's annotation handler attempts to process the crafted data without proper bounds checking, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user. This type of attack aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to gain code execution capabilities. The memory corruption can potentially be exploited through various methods including stack smashing or heap corruption techniques, depending on how the vulnerable code path is triggered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Acrobat Reader is widely deployed for document viewing and annotation purposes. Organizations that rely on PDF document sharing and collaboration are particularly vulnerable, as the attack requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious file. The vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile deployments of Acrobat Reader, making it a widespread concern across different computing environments. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited in the context of a user's normal browsing behavior, making detection and prevention challenging. The memory corruption issue creates an attack surface that can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated system privileges or access to sensitive corporate data. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for organizations that use Acrobat Reader as part of their document management workflows, as the attack can occur during routine document processing activities.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from Adobe, which address the memory corruption issue through improved input validation and memory management practices. The recommended approach involves deploying automated patch management systems to ensure all instances of Acrobat Reader are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be enhanced to prevent delivery of potentially malicious PDF files to end users, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying document sources before opening attachments. Security monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual PDF processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, and endpoint protection solutions should be updated to include signature-based detection for known malicious PDF patterns. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Acrobat Reader to trusted environments, and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The mitigation approach should also include regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify any remaining exposure risks in the organization's document processing infrastructure.