CVE-2019-7030 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier version, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier have an integer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The integer overflow vulnerability identified in CVE-2019-7030 affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2019.010.20069, 2017.011.30113, and 2015.006.30464. This flaw resides within the document processing components of these applications, where improper handling of integer values during memory allocation operations creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters that are subsequently used in arithmetic operations, leading to scenarios where computed values exceed the maximum representable integer limits. Such overflow conditions can result in unexpected behavior within the application's memory management systems, potentially allowing malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in memory regions that should remain protected.
The technical exploitation of this integer overflow vulnerability follows established patterns documented in CWE-190, which classifies integer overflow conditions as critical security weaknesses. When an attacker crafts malicious PDF documents containing specially formatted data structures, the application's parsing logic may inadvertently trigger integer overflow scenarios during memory allocation calculations. This occurs when the application attempts to allocate memory blocks based on user-supplied values that, when processed mathematically, exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer type being used. The resulting overflow can cause memory corruption, which may manifest as information disclosure through memory layout exposure or potentially lead to more severe consequences depending on the specific memory access patterns involved in the vulnerable code paths.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7030 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the vulnerability creates potential attack vectors that align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Credential Access and Defense Evasion. Organizations utilizing affected Adobe Reader versions face significant risks when processing untrusted PDF documents, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to extract sensitive data from memory segments that contain user credentials, system information, or other confidential content. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, where users frequently encounter PDF documents from external sources. Security researchers have noted that exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires minimal user interaction, often succeeding when users simply open malicious documents, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where social engineering components may be employed to deliver the payload.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, specifically targeting releases that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as sandboxing PDF processing environments, restricting user permissions when opening documents, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF file patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue indicates that defense-in-depth strategies are essential, including regular security assessments of document handling processes and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within applications can help prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding standards and reducing the overall attack surface for integer overflow vulnerabilities.