CVE-2019-8161 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions , 2019.012.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30148 and earlier, 2017.011.30148 and earlier, 2015.006.30503 and earlier, and 2015.006.30503 and earlier have a type confusion vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a type confusion vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.012.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30148 and earlier, and 2015.006.30503 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of objects within the software's memory management system where the application fails to properly validate type information during object manipulation. The flaw occurs when the software processes maliciously crafted pdf documents that contain specially constructed objects designed to trigger incorrect type assumptions in the interpreter. This type confusion vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate system access through malicious file execution. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to manipulate memory objects in ways that bypass normal type checking mechanisms, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to open a maliciously crafted pdf file, making it a typical attack vector for social engineering campaigns. When the vulnerable software processes the malicious document, it encounters an object that appears to be of one type but is actually of another type, causing the application to perform operations on memory locations that were not intended for that specific data type. This misalignment between expected and actual object types can result in memory corruption that attackers can leverage to inject and execute malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening the file, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise systems through phishing emails or malicious websites. The memory corruption typically manifests as stack or heap corruption that can be exploited to redirect program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. Attackers can use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware components. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different release cycles, indicating a fundamental flaw in the type handling logic that was not properly addressed in the affected releases. Organizations using these older versions face significant risk as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The attack surface is broad since pdf files are commonly used in business environments and are frequently opened by users without security awareness. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability requires no special privileges to exploit and can be delivered through common attack vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or malicious advertisements.
Organizations should immediately update to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain patches for this vulnerability. Adobe released security updates that address this type confusion issue by implementing proper type validation checks and memory management protections. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as pdf file content filtering, sandboxing mechanisms, and user education programs to reduce the risk of exploitation. Network security teams should monitor for suspicious pdf file downloads and implement email filtering rules that block known malicious attachments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping software updated and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted pdf files or limit access to known vulnerable applications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this specific vulnerability across all affected software versions to ensure complete remediation.