CVE-2019-7797 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 version, 2017.011.30138 and earlier version, 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7797 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This issue manifests in the handling of memory management within the affected applications, creating a scenario where memory previously allocated to objects is accessed after it has been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability impacts 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, spanning several major releases of Adobe's document processing software.
The technical implementation of this use after free vulnerability occurs when the application processes maliciously crafted PDF files that trigger improper memory management during object disposal. When a PDF document contains specially constructed elements, the software's memory allocator may free memory associated with certain objects while the application continues to reference that memory location. This creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application. The flaw resides in the improper handling of memory references during PDF parsing operations, specifically when processing embedded objects or complex document structures that require dynamic memory allocation and deallocation.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2019-7797 could enable attackers to achieve complete system compromise through arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple application-level issues as it allows threat actors to bypass standard security controls and potentially escalate privileges within the victim's environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to deliver malware payloads, establish persistent backdoors, or perform reconnaissance activities without detection. The widespread adoption of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across enterprise environments makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it provides multiple attack vectors for threat actors targeting various organizational sectors. The exploitation typically occurs when users open malicious PDF files, making social engineering attacks more effective in combination with this technical vulnerability.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including prompt patching of affected Adobe software versions to address the memory management flaw. Organizations should also deploy network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF file patterns and implement strict email filtering to prevent delivery of potentially malicious documents. Additionally, user education regarding safe PDF handling practices and awareness of phishing attempts remains crucial. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software applications, and represents a common attack vector that maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious documents and execution via arbitrary code injection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all systems remain protected against this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.