CVE-2017-3053 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 image conversion engine, related to parsing of the APP13 segment in JPEG files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2024
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a memory address leak vulnerability within its image conversion engine that affects multiple version ranges including 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, and 15.023.20070 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically manifests during the parsing of APP13 segments within JPEG files, creating a critical security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw exists in the handling of memory addresses during image processing operations, where insufficient validation occurs when processing specially crafted JPEG files containing malicious APP13 segments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the JPEG parsing component of Adobe Reader's image conversion engine, which fails to properly validate memory pointers during the processing of APP13 marker segments. This memory address leak occurs when the application processes JPEG files that contain malformed or specially crafted APP13 segments that trigger improper memory handling within the parsing routine. The vulnerability is classified as a memory corruption issue that can lead to information disclosure and potentially enable further exploitation techniques. According to CWE standards, this represents a weakness in the software's memory management practices, specifically categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition that can expose memory addresses to unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with memory layout information that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming exploits. Attackers can craft malicious JPEG files that, when opened in vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader, trigger the memory address leak and potentially allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects the application's stability and security posture, as the memory address information leaked can be used to bypass security mechanisms such as address space layout randomization. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1106 for execution through system calls, as the leaked memory addresses can facilitate more advanced exploitation methods.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader versions to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes deploying the latest security updates from Adobe, which address the memory handling issues in the JPEG parsing engine. Additionally, implementing network-based security controls such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Security teams should monitor for suspicious file opening activities and implement user education programs to reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in software applications, particularly in document processing components that handle untrusted user data. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.