CVE-2019-7067 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 classified as CVE-2019-7067 that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and represents a classic memory safety issue that can be exploited to extract sensitive information from the application's memory space. The flaw manifests when the software processes specially crafted PDF documents that contain malformed data structures, specifically within the document parsing routines that fail to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems. When an attacker crafts a malicious PDF file with malformed data structures, the application's parsing engine attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially reading adjacent memory contents that may contain sensitive data such as passwords, encryption keys, or other confidential information. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through email attachments or web downloads without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious document.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7067 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the context of a broader attack chain. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, this vulnerability could enable initial access or privilege escalation by providing attackers with information that can be used to further compromise systems. The vulnerability affects widely deployed software across enterprise environments, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who seek to exploit the broad attack surface. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk of data breaches, especially in environments where sensitive documents are regularly processed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7067 should include immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions. Organizations should implement network-based security controls such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventory management and implementing automated patch management systems. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments targeting PDF processing applications and consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious memory access patterns. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding opening untrusted PDF files, particularly those received via email or downloaded from unknown sources, as social engineering remains a common delivery method for exploits targeting this class of vulnerability.