CVE-2019-7140 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20100 and earlier, 2019.010.20099 and earlier, 2017.011.30140 and earlier, 2017.011.30138 and earlier, 2015.006.30495 and earlier, and 2015.006.30493 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 • 06/15/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and occurs when the software attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw manifests during the parsing of specific PDF elements where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits before accessing memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in information disclosure and potentially more severe consequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious PDF documents that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Acrobat or Reader. When the application processes these crafted files, it attempts to access memory locations that are outside the intended buffer boundaries, potentially reading sensitive data from adjacent memory regions. This memory access pattern can expose confidential information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other sensitive data stored in nearby memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through simple document opening actions, requiring no additional user interaction beyond viewing the malicious file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a significant security risk for organizations that rely on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially compromising entire systems or applications that depend on the software. The vulnerability affects multiple release cycles including 2019, 2017, and 2015 versions, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across several major releases. This widespread impact suggests that organizations with legacy systems running older versions may be particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader where the vulnerability has been patched. The recommended approach involves deploying security updates from Adobe as soon as they become available, as these patches typically include enhanced input validation and memory boundary checks. Additionally, organizations should implement sandboxing mechanisms and restrict PDF file handling to trusted sources only. Network-level protections such as PDF content filtering and email scanning can help prevent exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving initial access through malicious files and privilege escalation through information disclosure, making comprehensive security measures essential for protecting against both direct exploitation and potential follow-on attacks.