CVE-2019-7066 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 untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the software's handling of malformed input data within PDF documents, specifically when processing certain embedded objects or streams. The flaw occurs when the application attempts to dereference a pointer without proper validation of its legitimacy or bounds, creating a potential entry point for malicious actors. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-476 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions that can lead to application crashes or more severe exploitation scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft specially malformed PDF files that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger the unsafe pointer dereference operation. When the application processes these malicious documents, it attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly validated or initialized, potentially leading to memory corruption. The exploitation mechanism typically involves manipulating the PDF parser's behavior during document parsing, causing the application to jump to arbitrary memory addresses or execute code from controlled locations. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential persistence mechanisms and privilege escalation opportunities within the victim environment. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing threat actors to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads. The widespread adoption of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments and individual workstations makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it can be exploited through social engineering campaigns targeting unsuspecting users. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users regularly open PDF documents from untrusted sources or when document review processes are inadequate.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which contain patches addressing this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves deploying automated update mechanisms or manually applying patches through Adobe's official security bulletins. Network-level protections such as PDF sandboxing features and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of defense. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious PDF file activity and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates immediate action, as it can be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or any other vector that delivers malicious PDF content to vulnerable systems. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that all Adobe installations remain current with security patches and that no legacy versions persist in the environment.