CVE-2017-3030 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 AES module. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability within its Advanced Encryption Standard AES module that affects multiple version ranges including 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, and 15.023.20070 and earlier. This vulnerability represents a severe security flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through carefully crafted malicious documents. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of encrypted content within the AES encryption framework, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the cryptographic processing routines, which fail to properly validate the integrity of encrypted data structures before processing them. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it provides attackers with persistent access to target systems, enabling them to establish footholds for further attacks within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns that distribute malicious PDF files containing specially crafted encryption parameters designed to trigger the memory corruption. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Adobe Acrobat Reader's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and individual workstations, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise large user bases. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires the user to open a malicious PDF file, making it susceptible to phishing attacks and other social engineering techniques. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The memory corruption nature of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous because it can be triggered by legitimate PDF processing operations, making detection and prevention challenging. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability occurs when the AES module processes malformed encrypted data structures that exceed allocated memory boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based memory corruption issues that can be exploited through various attack vectors including file-based attacks and web-based exploitation. The affected versions represent a broad range of Adobe Acrobat Reader releases, indicating that this vulnerability has been present for an extended period, allowing threat actors to develop and refine exploitation techniques. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected systems, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to system compromise. Additionally, network segmentation and application whitelisting measures should be implemented to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while regular security monitoring and incident response procedures should be enhanced to detect and respond to potential exploitation activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software components updated and the potential consequences of running outdated security software in enterprise environments.