CVE-2019-7047 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 out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions where an application attempts to access memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer. The flaw occurs when the software processes malformed or specially crafted PDF files that contain maliciously constructed data structures. When these documents are opened, the application fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns that can result in information disclosure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PDF file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during document parsing. This type of vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it can potentially expose sensitive data from the application's memory space including temporary files, user credentials, or other confidential information. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where users are tricked into opening malicious documents through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7047 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they may be able to extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other system data that could be used for further exploitation. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Adobe products including both desktop and mobile versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be running vulnerable software versions. Organizations that have not updated their Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations remain at risk of data breaches and potential system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of all affected versions to the latest Adobe security updates, which address the underlying buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should implement strict document filtering policies that prevent execution of potentially malicious files, particularly those from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring for suspicious file access patterns and blocking known malicious PDF samples. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs that can identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited in the wild. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that rely on tricking users into opening malicious documents.