CVE-2017-3049 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 heap overflow vulnerability in the image conversion engine, related to internal tile manipulation in TIFF files. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3049 represents a critical heap overflow flaw within Adobe Acrobat Reader's image processing capabilities, specifically affecting multiple version ranges including 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, and 15.023.20070 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the image conversion engine responsible for handling TIFF file formats, making it particularly dangerous as TIFF files are commonly used for high-quality document imaging and are frequently encountered in professional environments. The flaw manifests during internal tile manipulation processes when processing malformed TIFF files, creating a condition where memory allocation exceeds available buffer space, thereby enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The exploitation occurs when Acrobat Reader processes specially crafted TIFF files containing malformed tile data that triggers an overflow in heap memory allocated for image processing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation typically results in code execution that can be leveraged to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the compromised system. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that Adobe Reader is widely deployed across enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for adversaries seeking to compromise large user bases.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3049 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within organizational networks. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows adversaries to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running Acrobat Reader, potentially leading to complete system compromise if users have administrative rights. The vulnerability's prevalence across multiple version ranges means that organizations with legacy systems or delayed patch management processes face prolonged exposure windows, increasing the risk of successful exploitation. Additionally, the nature of TIFF files as commonly used in business documents, legal filings, and technical documentation creates numerous attack vectors where adversaries can embed malicious payloads within seemingly legitimate files, making detection and prevention particularly challenging for security teams.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat Reader versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation, as Adobe released security updates addressing this vulnerability through their regular security bulletins. System administrators should implement network segmentation and file validation controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted TIFF files. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious file processing activities within Acrobat Reader, as well as implementation of sandboxing technologies to isolate potentially malicious file operations. The vulnerability's characteristics also warrant consideration of endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous memory allocation patterns or code execution behaviors indicative of heap overflow exploitation attempts, thereby providing additional layers of defense beyond traditional signature-based detection mechanisms.