CVE-2019-7050 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 use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7050 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the affected applications, specifically in how they handle memory allocation and deallocation during document processing operations. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the application's memory state to execute arbitrary code. This particular vulnerability affects Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions including 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier, indicating a long-standing issue that spans multiple major releases. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software applications, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of memory safety issue.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious PDF document that triggers the flawed memory management routine. During normal document processing, the application allocates memory for various objects and structures, but fails to properly validate memory references after deallocation. When the application attempts to access freed memory locations, an attacker can manipulate the memory layout to redirect execution flow. This typically involves overwriting the freed memory with malicious code or pointers that redirect program execution to the attacker's payload. The exploitation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation often involves code injection and execution within the application's memory space. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution, as it can potentially allow full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors or when the application runs with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7050 is severe and far-reaching across enterprise environments where Adobe Acrobat and Reader are widely deployed. Organizations using affected versions of these applications face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential system compromise through targeted attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often succeeding through simple document opening or preview operations, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users frequently open PDF documents from various sources. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware payloads. The widespread adoption of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across industries including finance, healthcare, and government sectors amplifies the potential impact, as these organizations often contain sensitive data that could be compromised through successful exploitation. Security teams face the challenge of identifying affected systems and implementing timely patches, as the vulnerability exists across multiple software versions and release cycles.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7050 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Adobe, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected systems and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Network-based mitigations including PDF document filtering and sandboxing can provide additional protection layers while patches are being deployed. Security configurations should enforce strict access controls and limit user privileges when processing PDF documents, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. The implementation of security monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior patterns associated with memory corruption attacks can help identify exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted PDF documents and the importance of maintaining updated software versions. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted PDF processing applications, while maintaining detailed logging of document processing activities to facilitate incident response efforts. These measures align with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls for vulnerability management and access control.