CVE-2019-7777 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 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 weakness category, which represents an out-of-bounds read condition where an application attempts to access memory beyond the bounds of a buffer. The flaw occurs during the processing of PDF documents, specifically when parsing certain malformed or crafted PDF files that contain maliciously constructed data structures. When the vulnerable software attempts to read data from memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, it may access uninitialized memory regions or memory belonging to other processes, potentially exposing sensitive information.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in information disclosure, where attackers can extract confidential data from the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be leveraged to obtain sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other proprietary data that may be stored in memory. The out-of-bounds read condition can be triggered through the manipulation of PDF files, making it a significant risk vector for targeted attacks. The vulnerability represents a direct threat to the confidentiality and integrity of the affected systems, as it allows for potential data exfiltration without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations that rely on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing and sharing. The attack surface is broad due to the widespread adoption of these applications across enterprise environments, making them attractive targets for threat actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into opening malicious PDF attachments, or through direct compromise of document repositories that contain vulnerable files. Organizations may experience significant impact from information disclosure attacks that could lead to intellectual property theft, financial data exposure, or other security breaches.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should prioritize deployment of patches across all affected systems, particularly those that process external PDF documents or have access to sensitive information. Network segmentation and content filtering should be implemented to prevent unauthorized PDF files from reaching end-user systems, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potentially vulnerable installations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized PDF processing applications and maintain comprehensive monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for exploitation of remote services and T1566 for spearphishing with malicious attachments, demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged in broader attack campaigns targeting organizational security postures.