CVE-2017-3091 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.4 and earlier versions 4.5.4 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.4 and earlier contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for users of the software. This vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflow as identified by CWE-122, where insufficient memory bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The flaw occurs within the application's handling of specially crafted digital content files, particularly when processing malformed data structures during document parsing operations. The vulnerability exists due to inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote code execution attacks, where an attacker can craft malicious digital content that, when opened by an affected Adobe Digital Editions user, triggers the memory corruption. This process typically involves manipulating the application's memory layout through buffer overflows that can overwrite critical program execution pointers or function return addresses, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the running application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through social engineering techniques, where users might unknowingly open maliciously crafted e-books or digital documents that contain the exploit payload. This makes the attack vector highly accessible and potentially widespread among users who regularly access digital content through Adobe Digital Editions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access for attackers. Once successfully exploited, the malicious code can establish backdoors, steal sensitive information, or escalate privileges to gain administrative control over affected systems. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems including windows and macos platforms where Adobe Digital Editions is installed, making it a cross-platform threat. Organizations and individuals who rely on Adobe Digital Editions for managing digital publications face significant risk, particularly in environments where users have the ability to open external digital content files. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks where affected systems exist.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.5 or later, which contains patches addressing this memory corruption vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted digital content files and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the mitre att&ck framework, particularly focusing on privilege escalation and execution techniques. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted digital content and should verify the integrity of all digital publications before opening them. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar memory corruption issues in other applications and systems, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar threats that may exist in their environments.