CVE-2017-3065 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 font manipulation functionality. 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 font processing 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 resides within the font manipulation functionality where improper input validation and memory handling allows attackers to craft malicious PDF documents that trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption when the reader attempts to process embedded fonts. The flaw represents a classic memory safety issue that enables attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user opens a specially crafted PDF file containing malicious font data. The reader's font parsing routines fail to properly validate font structure parameters and length fields, leading to memory corruption during font rendering operations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow categories, which are fundamental memory corruption patterns that have historically enabled remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the common PDF document format, which users frequently open without suspicion, making social engineering attacks more effective.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2017-3065 creates a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to compromise systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The attack surface extends beyond individual user machines to enterprise environments where PDF documents are commonly shared and opened. This vulnerability can be weaponized through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and malicious document repositories. The execution of arbitrary code in the context of the Acrobat Reader process allows attackers to bypass many traditional security controls, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as attackers can leverage the compromised reader process to execute further malicious activities.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including mandatory security updates to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, deployment of endpoint protection solutions with PDF scanning capabilities, and user education regarding suspicious document attachments. Network-based mitigations such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions can provide additional layers of protection. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of vulnerable software versions and monitor for unusual PDF processing activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates how seemingly benign document processing functionality can become a critical attack surface requiring continuous monitoring and proactive security measures.