CVE-2019-7768 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 use after free vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability resides in the handling of specific file objects within the application's memory management system, where a freed memory location is accessed after the memory has been deallocated. The flaw manifests when the software processes certain malformed PDF files that trigger improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the same memory region. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software implementations. The vulnerability exists due to inadequate validation of object references and memory state management during the processing of complex PDF structures that contain embedded objects or scripts.
The exploitation of this use after free vulnerability presents a significant security risk that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. When an attacker crafts a malicious PDF file that triggers the vulnerable code path, the application's memory management becomes corrupted, allowing the attacker to overwrite critical memory locations with malicious code. The attack typically begins with the delivery of a specially crafted PDF document through phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised download sources. Once opened, the vulnerable application attempts to process the malformed file, triggering the memory corruption that enables code execution. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain execution privileges, and T1059, which encompasses the use of command and scripting interpreters for execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can provide attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation allows adversaries to bypass standard security controls, escalate privileges, and establish persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability affects organizations using various versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across different platforms, making it a widespread concern for enterprise security teams. Organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing, including financial services, government agencies, and healthcare institutions, face particular risk due to the high volume of PDF files processed daily. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of their comprehensive threat modeling efforts, particularly when assessing the risk of social engineering attacks that leverage PDF-based delivery mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations, as well as implementing additional defensive measures. Organizations should establish automated patch management processes to ensure all systems receive security updates promptly. Network-based defenses such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions can provide additional layers of protection against malicious PDF files. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious PDF-related activities and establish incident response procedures specific to this vulnerability. The use of Adobe's official security bulletins and vulnerability management tools can help organizations track and remediate affected systems. Regular security awareness training for end users should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected PDF files, particularly those received via email or downloaded from untrusted sources. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of unauthorized PDF processing applications while maintaining necessary business functionality through proper access controls and privilege management.