CVE-2019-7052 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 write vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that affects multiple product versions including 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the handling of PDF documents and represents a classic memory corruption flaw that allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. The technical implementation involves improper bounds checking during the processing of specific PDF elements, particularly when parsing malformed or specially crafted document structures. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to write data to memory locations that are outside the intended buffer boundaries, creating opportunities for malicious code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides a pathway for remote code execution attacks. An attacker can craft a malicious PDF document that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader, triggers the out-of-bounds write condition. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through application vulnerabilities. The attack surface is particularly concerning as PDF files are commonly shared through email attachments, web downloads, and document repositories, making successful exploitation highly probable in targeted campaigns.
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, typically resulting in full system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions spanning several years indicates a persistent flaw in Adobe's codebase that was not adequately addressed in the affected release cycles. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face significant risk as attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to systems, deploy malware, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the widespread use of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, making it a prime target for nation-state actors and cybercriminal organizations seeking to conduct large-scale attacks. The remediation requires immediate patching of affected installations and implementation of additional security controls such as PDF file scanning, application whitelisting, and network-based protection measures to prevent exploitation attempts.