CVE-2017-3046 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 a memory address leak vulnerability in the JPEG 2000 parser, related to contiguous code-stream parsing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2024
This vulnerability resides in Adobe Acrobat Reader's handling of JPEG 2000 image files, specifically within the contiguous code-stream parsing functionality of the JPEG 2000 parser component. The memory address leak occurs when processing malformed or specially crafted JPEG 2000 files that exploit weaknesses in how the application manages memory during image decoding operations. This flaw represents a critical security issue that can potentially be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to system memory contents and potentially extract sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the JPEG 2000 parser's code-stream processing logic. When Acrobat Reader encounters a malformed JPEG 2000 file, the parser fails to properly validate memory boundaries during contiguous code-stream parsing operations, leading to information disclosure through memory address leaks. This behavior manifests as the application inadvertently exposing memory addresses or other sensitive data structures to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a specific case of memory corruption that can be leveraged for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable insights into the memory layout of the running Acrobat Reader application. This information can be used to facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming exploits that rely on knowing specific memory addresses. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader across different release lines, including versions 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, and 15.023.20070 and earlier, making it a widespread concern for organizations using these applications. Attackers could potentially leverage this information to bypass security mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries, which are designed to protect against exploitation.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including prompt patching of affected Adobe Acrobat Reader versions, network-based intrusion detection system rules to identify suspicious JPEG 2000 file transfers, and user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted PDF files containing embedded JPEG 2000 images. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under technique T1059 for execution through malicious document content, while also aligning with T1068 for privilege escalation opportunities that may arise from information disclosure. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable components and monitor for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in multimedia processing components, particularly when handling complex image formats like JPEG 2000 that require sophisticated parsing logic.