CVE-2019-7064 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 • 06/18/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the document parsing mechanisms that handle PDF files, specifically when processing certain embedded objects or streams. The flaw occurs when the application attempts to read data from memory locations that are beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, creating an opportunity for unauthorized data access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to information disclosure when maliciously crafted PDF documents are processed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially malformed PDF file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during document rendering or parsing operations. When a victim opens such a malicious document, the application's memory management routines attempt to access memory locations that contain sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. This can potentially expose confidential data including but not limited to user credentials, system information, or other sensitive application data that resides in nearby memory segments. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond opening the document, making it particularly dangerous in phishing or social engineering scenarios where users might inadvertently open malicious attachments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a precursor to more severe attacks within the attacker's kill chain. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could enable initial access or privilege escalation techniques by providing attackers with additional information about the target system. The vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, creating a broad attack surface that spans multiple platforms and deployment scenarios. Organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing for business operations face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where document sharing is frequent and security controls may be insufficient.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as Adobe has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing mechanisms for PDF document handling, deploying content filtering solutions that scan PDF attachments, and establishing user awareness training programs to reduce the likelihood of opening malicious documents. Network-level defenses such as email filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual PDF processing activities or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that target widely used software applications.