CVE-2017-3095 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.4 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the PDF parsing engine. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.4 and earlier contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability within their PDF parsing engine that presents a significant security risk to users. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and represents a serious flaw in how the application processes PDF documents. The flaw exists in the way Adobe Digital Editions handles certain malformed or specially crafted PDF files, which can trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions during document parsing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows an attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code on a victim's system simply by opening a maliciously crafted PDF file through the vulnerable application. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how PDF parsing engines can become attack vectors for remote code execution. The memory corruption occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data from PDF files, specifically in the handling of embedded objects or malformed structures within the document format.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple document viewing and presents a comprehensive threat to system security and user safety. Attackers can leverage this weakness to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly legitimate PDF documents, potentially leading to full system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond opening the document. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but also organizations that rely on Adobe Digital Editions for document management and distribution. When exploited, the memory corruption can result in privilege escalation, data theft, or the installation of additional malware. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with rich media document processing and highlights how applications that parse complex file formats become prime targets for sophisticated attacks. The attack surface is particularly broad since PDF files are commonly shared across networks and email systems, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Digital Editions face significant exposure to attacks that could compromise their digital asset management systems and potentially lead to broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3095 require immediate action to address the root cause of the vulnerability through software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective approach involves upgrading to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.5 or later, which contains patches specifically designed to address the memory corruption issues within the PDF parsing engine. System administrators should implement strict document validation policies and consider deploying sandboxing solutions that isolate PDF processing activities from core system functions. Network security controls including email filtering and web proxy configurations should be enhanced to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious PDF files to end-user systems. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing comprehensive patch management programs. From an operational security perspective, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of Adobe Digital Editions and ensure proper remediation. This vulnerability exemplifies the ATT&CK technique of initial access through malicious documents and highlights the need for layered security approaches that include user education, application whitelisting, and network monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other document processing applications within the organization's technology stack.