CVE-2019-7758 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 version, 2017.011.30138 and earlier version, 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 • 06/14/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 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. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which represents a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability occurs when the software processes PDF files that contain malformed or crafted array indices, leading to memory access violations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. When an attacker crafts a malicious PDF document with specially constructed array elements, the application attempts to read memory locations that are outside the intended buffer limits, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in the context of document processing applications like Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users open maliciously crafted PDF files. The out-of-bounds read can result in information disclosure, potentially revealing memory contents such as encryption keys, passwords, or other sensitive data that may be stored in adjacent memory locations. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to extract sensitive information from compromised systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can leverage this flaw through malicious email attachments or web-based attacks. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents could potentially contain credentials or cryptographic material that could be used for further attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately, as it represents a critical risk that can be exploited remotely without user interaction, and the vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different release cycles. The flaw demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in document processing software, particularly when handling untrusted file formats. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms while awaiting official patches. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of file parsing components, as PDF processing libraries are frequently targeted by attackers due to their complex nature and the variety of potential attack vectors they present.
This vulnerability represents a classic example of memory safety issues in commercial software applications, where improper bounds checking allows attackers to traverse memory boundaries and extract sensitive information. The out-of-bounds read condition occurs during PDF parsing operations when the application fails to properly validate array indices before accessing memory locations, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious documents that trigger these memory access violations. The affected versions span multiple Adobe Acrobat and Reader releases, indicating a widespread issue that has persisted across different product cycles and security updates. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform information disclosure attacks that can potentially expose sensitive data stored in memory, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking to extract credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information. The exploitation mechanism relies on the ability to construct PDF files that contain malformed array structures, which when processed by the vulnerable software, cause the application to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Adobe Acrobat and Reader are commonly used for document sharing and collaboration, as it creates multiple attack vectors through email attachments, web downloads, or shared network drives. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 emphasizes the fundamental nature of the flaw, which is a failure to validate input parameters before memory access operations. Security professionals should consider implementing additional protective measures such as application whitelisting, restricted file type processing, and network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The issue also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing proper software lifecycle management practices to minimize exposure windows for known vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct comprehensive risk assessments to determine the potential impact of this vulnerability on their specific environments and implement appropriate mitigations while awaiting official patches from Adobe. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for thorough testing of memory management operations in applications that process untrusted data formats.