CVE-2019-8098 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 out-of-bounds write vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability resides in the handling of maliciously crafted pdf files and represents a severe security flaw that could enable remote code execution. The flaw manifests when the software processes malformed input data during pdf parsing operations, specifically in memory management routines that fail to properly validate buffer boundaries before writing data. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions where programs write data past the end of allocated buffer space. The vulnerability affects Adobe Acrobat and Reader 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, indicating this flaw spans multiple product generations and security patches. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to write data beyond the intended memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations with malicious code. This type of vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could allow remote attackers to gain complete control over systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader. Attackers could craft malicious pdf documents that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, would trigger the out-of-bounds write condition and subsequently execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks. Organizations using these applications face substantial risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability could also lead to application crashes or denial of service conditions, further impacting business operations. Given the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across enterprise environments, this vulnerability presents a critical risk that requires immediate attention and remediation. The out-of-bounds write condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow and inject malicious code into memory spaces that should remain protected. This vulnerability type is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through social engineering techniques, where users are tricked into opening malicious documents. The exploitation chain typically involves crafting a pdf file with specifically designed malicious data structures that, when parsed by the vulnerable software, trigger the buffer overflow condition. The memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement additional security controls including pdf file scanning, application whitelisting, and user education to reduce the risk of exploitation. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and ensure that all endpoints running vulnerable versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader are updated to the latest secure releases. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers could potentially compromise systems without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where pdf documents are frequently shared and opened.