CVE-2019-7774 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 • 06/13/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges across different product lines. 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 processing of specially crafted PDF documents that contain malformed data structures, particularly within the document parsing routines that manage various PDF objects and their associated metadata. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read according to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue where an application reads data beyond the intended memory limits. The affected versions include Adobe Acrobat and Reader 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, indicating this issue spans multiple product generations and represents a long-standing security gap in the software's memory management capabilities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts a PDF file containing specifically structured data that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during document rendering or parsing operations. When the vulnerable application processes such a crafted file, it attempts to access memory locations that are not properly validated or bounds-checked, potentially leading to information disclosure. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where users are tricked into opening malicious PDF documents through email attachments, web downloads, or other delivery mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution which describes how adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in software applications to execute malicious code or extract sensitive information. The out-of-bounds read condition can result in the disclosure of sensitive information from adjacent memory locations, potentially exposing system credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data that resides in the application's memory space. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it a significant threat vector for targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage the information disclosure to gain insights into the application's memory layout, which can be used to bypass security mitigations such as address space layout randomization or stack canaries. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions across different product lines indicates a systemic issue in Adobe's codebase that requires comprehensive remediation. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently handle untrusted PDF documents or where the applications are used in high-security contexts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk, while not explicitly stated in the description, represents a potential escalation path that security professionals must consider when assessing the overall threat landscape. The affected versions span several years of product releases, suggesting that the underlying memory management flaw was not properly addressed in the software development lifecycle, and highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management processes. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for robust input validation and memory safety practices in software development, particularly for applications that process complex file formats like PDF documents.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including mandatory patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions. The recommended approach involves deploying automated patch management solutions to ensure all endpoints receive security updates promptly. Network-based mitigations such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers while waiting for patches to be deployed. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual PDF processing patterns or memory access anomalies. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions emphasizes the need for comprehensive vulnerability assessment across all Adobe products within the organization's infrastructure. Regular security awareness training for users should be conducted to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that leverage this vulnerability. System administrators should also review and enforce strict access controls for PDF processing capabilities, particularly in high-value environments where information disclosure could have significant business impact. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches to ensure they do not introduce compatibility issues with existing document processing workflows. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing zero-trust security principles for document handling, where all PDF files are processed through secure, isolated environments before being made available to end users. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of delayed remediation efforts in enterprise environments.