CVE-2019-8014 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions , 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2017.011.30143 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2015.006.30497 and earlier, and 2015.006.30498 and earlier have a heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions prior to specific patches contain a critical heap overflow vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for enterprise environments. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions including 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2017.011.30143 and earlier, 2015.006.30497 and earlier, and 2015.006.30498 and earlier. The heap overflow occurs during the processing of malformed PDF files, where the application fails to properly validate input data before allocating memory on the heap. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can result in arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking in the PDF parsing engine, particularly when handling certain embedded objects or streams within the document structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable systems. When a user opens a maliciously crafted PDF file, the heap overflow can be triggered, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The attack surface is broad since PDF files are commonly used in business communications, making this a high-value target for threat actors. Security researchers have documented numerous incidents where this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild, often as part of initial access vectors in targeted attacks against organizations. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch management and comprehensive security controls. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest versions that contain the necessary security patches. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. Additional defensive measures include implementing PDF content filtering, restricting user permissions when opening PDF files, and deploying sandboxing technologies to isolate potentially malicious documents. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious PDF file downloads can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling PDF plugin support in web browsers and implementing strict email filtering policies to prevent malicious PDF attachments from reaching end users. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that can rapidly escalate in impact.