CVE-2019-8053 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-2019-8053 represents a critical use after free flaw in Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications affecting multiple version ranges including 2019.012.20035, 2017.011.30142, 2015.006.30497, and their respective earlier iterations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of use after free conditions, where a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for attackers. The flaw specifically resides in the handling of PDF objects within the Acrobat and Reader software, where improper memory management allows malicious actors to manipulate freed memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious PDF file is opened, triggering a sequence where the application frees memory associated with certain objects but continues to reference them afterward. This creates a scenario where an attacker can overwrite the freed memory with malicious code, effectively allowing arbitrary code execution on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple document opening, making it highly suitable for phishing attacks or social engineering campaigns where users might inadvertently open malicious attachments.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8053 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold in compromised systems. Once arbitrary code execution is achieved, attackers can establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Adobe Reader versions indicates a widespread exposure, affecting both enterprise and individual users who rely on PDF processing capabilities. Security researchers have mapped this vulnerability to ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and control execution and T1070 for indicator removal, demonstrating the full spectrum of potential attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions, with administrators prioritizing deployment of the latest security updates from Adobe. Organizations should implement network-based protections including PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious email attachments and untrusted PDF documents remains critical. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in software development, highlighting how seemingly minor flaws in object lifecycle management can lead to severe security consequences. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized code, while monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems.