CVE-2017-3050 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 image conversion engine, related to parsing of GIF files. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2024
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its image conversion engine that specifically affects GIF file parsing operations. This vulnerability exists within the software's handling of graphic image formats and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by remote attackers. The flaw manifests when the application processes malformed GIF files, leading to improper memory management during the conversion process from GIF to other image formats. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121 which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be triggered through web-based exploitation or malicious file delivery mechanisms, making it highly accessible to threat actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the GIF parsing routines of Adobe Reader's image processing subsystem. When the application encounters specially crafted GIF files with malformed headers or oversized data structures, the image conversion engine fails to properly validate input parameters before allocating memory buffers. This insufficient validation allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions including Acrobat Reader 11.0.19 and earlier, as well as specific versions of the 15.x release line. The exploitation requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation allows adversaries to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application, potentially leading to full system infiltration. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes exploitation of remote services, and T1059 which covers command and control through application execution. The risk is compounded by the widespread deployment of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, where the vulnerability can be leveraged for lateral movement and persistent access. Organizations running affected versions face significant exposure as the attack surface includes email systems, web browsers, and document sharing platforms where PDF files are commonly processed.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader installations to address the underlying memory corruption flaw. System administrators should implement network segmentation and web filtering controls to prevent access to malicious content that could trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files and implement regular security assessments to identify potentially vulnerable systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, aligning with industry standards that emphasize defensive programming techniques to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Regular security updates and vulnerability management programs are essential for protecting against similar flaws in other software components.