CVE-2019-7783 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 • 06/16/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader contain a critical use after free vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7783 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 resides in the document processing components of the software and represents a classic memory corruption flaw that occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating a dangerous condition that attackers can exploit. The vulnerability falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software systems. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the memory management behavior of the application to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software. This represents a severe security risk that could enable remote code execution without user interaction, particularly when the vulnerable software processes malicious PDF files. The attack surface is significant as PDF documents are commonly used across various industries and organizations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. The exploitation typically involves crafting a malicious PDF file that triggers the use after free condition during document parsing, allowing attackers to overwrite memory locations with malicious code. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves legitimate programs being used to execute adversary-controlled code, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreters. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader should immediately apply the vendor patches released as part of the security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices and the critical need for regular security updates in enterprise software environments. Without timely patching, systems remain at risk of compromise through targeted attacks leveraging this memory corruption flaw. The security implications extend beyond individual user machines to entire network infrastructures where PDF processing is common, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with robust document handling workflows.