CVE-2019-7763 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 contain a critical use after free vulnerability that affects multiple product versions 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 stems from improper memory management where a program continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, creating a potential exploitation vector for attackers. The flaw exists within the document processing components of these applications, specifically in how they handle certain PDF file structures and embedded objects. When a maliciously crafted PDF file is opened, the application may attempt to access memory that has already been deallocated, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which defines use after free conditions as a common memory safety issue. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as successful exploitation could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the user running the application. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through social engineering tactics by delivering malicious PDF files via email or compromised websites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. The attack surface is broad given the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across various industries. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations as it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond opening a malicious document. The exploitation typically follows patterns consistent with the attack technique described in MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should immediately implement patch management procedures to update to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as Adobe has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing sandboxing mechanisms, restricting PDF file execution permissions, and conducting user awareness training can provide additional layers of defense against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in software applications and highlights the need for continuous security assessment and timely patch deployment to protect against zero-day exploits.