CVE-2019-7799 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 an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2023
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 resides in the PDF parsing functionality where the software fails to properly validate array indices when processing maliciously crafted PDF files. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds memory read operation that occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during PDF document parsing. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-129 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs. The vulnerability operates by tricking the PDF parser into reading data from memory locations that do not belong to the intended data structure, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can lead to information disclosure, where attackers may extract confidential data such as memory contents, encryption keys, or other sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. The attack typically requires the victim to open a specially crafted malicious PDF file, making this a classic example of a remote code execution vector that leverages social engineering techniques. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing, as it can be exploited through email attachments or web downloads without requiring user interaction beyond opening the document. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations using affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches to mitigate this risk, as the information disclosure impact could potentially expose sensitive data and provide attackers with additional information for further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in document processing applications, particularly those handling untrusted content from external sources.