CVE-2019-8105 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 read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.012.20035, 2017.011.30142, 2015.006.30497, and their respective earlier iterations. This vulnerability manifests when the software processes maliciously crafted pdf files that contain improperly structured data within their internal object structures. The flaw occurs in the parsing logic where the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries without proper bounds checking mechanisms. This particular vulnerability maps to common weakness enumeration CWE-125 which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The technical execution of this flaw involves the application's failure to validate array indices or buffer limits when traversing embedded data structures within pdf documents, creating a predictable memory access pattern that adversaries can exploit through crafted input files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it represents a fundamental memory safety issue that could potentially be leveraged for more severe exploits. When an attacker successfully triggers this out-of-bounds read condition, they can access sensitive memory regions containing potentially confidential data, application state information, or even cryptographic keys that may be stored in adjacent memory locations. The exploitation scenario typically requires a user to open a maliciously crafted pdf file, making this a classic social engineering target that aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack technique MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1204.002 for legitimate user execution. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that organizations using these applications face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where pdf files are frequently exchanged or processed automatically.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations across all supported platforms. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest available versions that contain the necessary memory bounds checking fixes and input validation improvements. System administrators should implement strict pdf file validation policies and consider deploying sandboxing mechanisms to isolate pdf processing activities from core system resources. Network-based defenses can include pdf file scanning and filtering at ingress points to identify and block potentially malicious documents before they reach end-user systems. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue necessitates comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to ensure that all endpoints utilizing these applications remain protected against similar memory safety issues that could arise from similar parsing logic flaws in other software components.