CVE-2019-8047 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 an use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8047 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability manifests in the handling of memory management within the affected applications, specifically when processing certain document objects that trigger improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access attempts. The flaw exists across several product versions including 2019.012.20035, 2017.011.30142, 2015.006.30497, and their respective earlier iterations, indicating a persistent issue within the software's memory management subsystem. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use after free conditions where program code attempts to access memory after it has been freed, creating a potential exploitation vector for malicious actors.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves an attacker crafting a malicious PDF document that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader, triggers the use after free condition during document parsing. When the application processes the specially crafted document, it deallocates memory associated with certain objects but continues to reference or operate on that freed memory space. This creates an opportunity for remote code execution as the attacker can manipulate the freed memory to redirect program execution flow or inject malicious code into the application's memory space. The exploitation requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2019-8047 can result in complete system compromise as arbitrary code execution allows attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly deployed for document viewing, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches and system infiltration, particularly in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions across different release cycles suggests that organizations must maintain comprehensive patch management processes to address all affected software variants.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory software updates to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which contain patches addressing the use after free vulnerability. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense in depth measures to prevent exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under techniques related to exploitation of remote services and privilege escalation, with the use after free condition representing a critical weakness in the application's memory safety mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and prioritize patching based on risk exposure levels. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated software to ensure compatibility with existing business processes while maintaining security posture against this and related memory corruption vulnerabilities.