CVE-2019-7083 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 use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical use after free vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7083 that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.010.20069 and earlier, 2017.011.30113 and earlier, and 2015.006.30464 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of PDF objects and occurs when the application processes malformed or specially crafted PDF files that trigger improper memory management operations. The flaw manifests as a use after free condition where memory allocated to a PDF object is freed from the heap but the application continues to reference that memory location, creating a scenario where attackers can manipulate the freed memory to execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses the use of freed memory in software applications. The exploitation of this vulnerability follows the typical attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, where attackers leverage the memory corruption to gain unauthorized code execution within the context of the victim's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF document. When a user opens a crafted PDF file, the application's memory management routines fail to properly handle object references, leading to a memory corruption state that attackers can leverage through carefully constructed payloads. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Adobe Acrobat and Reader are commonly deployed, making it a prime target for targeted attacks and phishing campaigns. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms being established through the execution of malicious code. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into opening malicious attachments or visiting compromised websites hosting malicious PDF content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7083 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions. Organizations should implement strict PDF file handling policies including sandboxing mechanisms and content filtering to prevent execution of potentially malicious PDF files. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and email security appliances should be configured to block suspicious PDF content and monitor for known exploit patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted PDF files and verifying document sources before opening them. The vulnerability's classification as a use after free error makes it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional signature-based detection methods, requiring more sophisticated behavioral analysis and memory protection techniques to effectively mitigate the risk. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of Adobe applications to trusted environments and reduce the attack surface for exploitation attempts.