CVE-2019-8048 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 buffer error vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications have been found to contain a critical buffer error vulnerability affecting multiple version ranges including 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2015.006.30497 and earlier, and their respective counterparts. This vulnerability manifests as a buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing specially crafted pdf files, allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of pdf objects, particularly within the handling of embedded content and streams. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where insufficient input validation permits memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution elements. The attack vector typically involves luring users to open maliciously crafted pdf documents that contain oversized data structures or malformed elements designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8048 extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for privilege escalation and persistent access within compromised environments. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows adversaries to gain full control over the affected system, enabling them to install malware, modify system configurations, or establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the arbitrary code execution capability to run malicious payloads. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently open pdf documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's widespread impact across multiple product versions and release cycles demonstrates the complexity of maintaining security patches across enterprise environments where legacy systems may not receive timely updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8048 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement strict pdf file scanning and validation processes before allowing users to open documents, particularly those received from external sources or containing embedded content. Network-based security controls including web application firewalls and pdf content inspection tools can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to pdf-based attacks and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 highlights the importance of defensive programming practices including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection mechanisms. Regular security assessments should include verification of Adobe product installations to ensure compliance with security baselines and prevent exploitation through this and similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities.