CVE-2019-7065 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 version ranges including 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier versions. 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 bounds of a allocated buffer. The flaw occurs when the software processes specially crafted PDF files that trigger an invalid memory access pattern during the parsing of document structures. This particular vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it allows attackers to potentially read sensitive memory contents that should remain protected. The out-of-bounds read condition can be exploited through maliciously crafted PDF documents that are opened within the affected Adobe applications. When the vulnerable software attempts to parse these malformed documents, it accesses memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in information disclosure attacks where attackers gain access to sensitive data such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential information stored in memory. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables adversaries to extract information that could be used for further attacks or privilege escalation. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can provide attackers with insights into the application's memory layout and internal data structures. This information can be leveraged to develop more sophisticated attacks or to bypass security controls within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Adobe Acrobat and Reader are widely deployed for document processing and viewing. Organizations running affected versions of these applications face significant risk as the vulnerability can be triggered through simple document opening operations. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction and can occur when users open malicious PDF files either through email attachments, web downloads, or other delivery mechanisms. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in memory management within the PDF parsing components of Adobe's software suite. The out-of-bounds read condition typically manifests when the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes during document processing operations. This validation failure allows attackers to manipulate the parsing flow and force the application into accessing memory locations that contain sensitive data. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and memory boundary checks. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific out-of-bounds read condition. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing PDF file scanning and filtering mechanisms to prevent potentially malicious documents from reaching end users. The vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security assessments of document processing applications and the implementation of principle of least privilege controls to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.