CVE-2019-7125 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20098 and earlier, 2019.010.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30127 and earlier version, and 2015.006.30482 and earlier have a heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical heap overflow vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 2019.010.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30127 and earlier, and 2015.006.30482 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of specific file formats and occurs when processing malformed input data within the application's memory management system. The heap overflow represents a fundamental flaw in how the software allocates and manages memory regions, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation and persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through the simple act of opening a maliciously crafted PDF file, making it an ideal candidate for phishing attacks and drive-by downloads. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities and could be leveraged for initial access and privilege escalation within compromised environments. The risk assessment indicates that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data theft, or deployment of additional malware payloads. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected versions immediately and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files and monitor for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping enterprise software up to date and highlights the persistent risks associated with legacy software versions that may not receive ongoing security updates.