CVE-2019-7760 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 a use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical use after free vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where the software attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed or deallocated. The flaw manifests when the application processes certain PDF files that trigger specific code paths within the document parsing engine, leading to a scenario where freed memory objects are accessed after their intended lifecycle has ended. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during normal document processing operations, making exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers who can craft malicious PDF files.
The technical implementation of this use after free vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the application's memory state in ways that can be leveraged for remote code execution. When the vulnerable code path is executed, the application may write data to memory that was previously freed, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations or allowing an attacker to overwrite critical function pointers. This memory corruption can be exploited through carefully crafted PDF content that triggers the specific conditions leading to the use after free scenario. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 as a use after free condition, which represents a well-known class of memory safety issues that have historically led to severe security consequences. The exploitation typically follows attack patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can execute arbitrary code through the compromised application process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable full system compromise when users open malicious documents. The affected versions span several major release cycles, indicating that the vulnerability has persisted for an extended period and likely affected a large user base. Organizations running these older versions face significant risk as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, potentially establishing persistent backdoors or exfiltrating sensitive data. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across enterprise environments, making it a prime target for targeted attacks. Security teams must consider that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, particularly when users have administrative privileges, as the application typically runs with elevated permissions during document processing operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate version updates to the latest Adobe Acrobat and Reader releases that contain the relevant security patches. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies, including sandboxing PDF processing environments and employing content filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious PDF files. The implementation of network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual network activity patterns associated with PDF file processing. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious PDF attachments and verifying document sources before opening them. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of unauthorized PDF processing applications and ensure that automatic updates are enabled for Adobe products. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing comprehensive patch management procedures to prevent exploitation of known memory safety vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.