CVE-2019-8044 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 double free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2025
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical double free vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2017.011.30143 and earlier, and 2015.006.30497 and earlier. This vulnerability manifests when the software improperly handles memory allocation and deallocation processes, specifically when the same memory block is freed twice during the execution of a document processing routine. The double free condition occurs in the handling of embedded objects within pdf files, where the application's memory management code fails to properly track allocated memory regions, leading to a scenario where a single memory pointer is passed to the free() function twice. This flaw represents a classic memory corruption vulnerability that maps to CWE-415, which describes the condition where a program calls the free() function twice on the same memory address. The vulnerability exists in the document parsing and rendering components of the software, particularly when processing maliciously crafted pdf documents that contain specially constructed objects designed to trigger the memory management error.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution within the context of the user running the vulnerable software. Attackers can craft malicious pdf documents that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader, will trigger the double free condition in the application's memory management subsystem. The exploitation process typically involves creating a pdf file with embedded objects that manipulate the application's internal memory structures, causing the program to free the same memory block twice and potentially corrupting the heap structure. This heap corruption can then be leveraged to redirect program execution flow, allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code on the victim's system. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise through code execution. The attack surface is particularly broad given that pdf files are commonly shared through email attachments, web downloads, and document sharing platforms, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8044 should focus on immediate patch management and operational security controls to protect against exploitation attempts. Organizations must prioritize updating all instances of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to versions that have been patched against this vulnerability, with the earliest fixed versions being 2019.012.20036 and later for the 2019 releases, 2017.011.30144 and later for the 2017 releases, and 2015.006.30499 and later for the 2015 releases. Beyond patching, defensive measures should include implementing pdf file scanning and filtering mechanisms at network boundaries to identify and block potentially malicious documents before they reach end users. Security teams should also consider deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of untrusted pdf files through Adobe Reader, while monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices and the need for robust input validation in document processing applications, as outlined in the software security principles recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project. Organizations should also maintain comprehensive incident response procedures specifically designed to handle memory corruption vulnerabilities, ensuring that any exploitation attempts are quickly detected and contained to prevent further compromise of affected systems.