CVE-2019-8164 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 an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure .
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader contain a critical out-of-bounds read 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 malformed PDF files and represents a classic memory safety issue that can be exploited through crafted malicious documents. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during PDF parsing operations, specifically within the document processing engine that handles various PDF objects and streams. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where software accesses memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions.
The exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts a specially designed PDF file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during normal document rendering or processing. When a user opens such a crafted document, the application's memory management routines fail to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries, allowing the program to access memory locations that contain confidential information such as passwords, encryption keys, or other sensitive data from adjacent memory segments. This information disclosure can occur without any user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables attackers to potentially extract sensitive information from memory, and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering, as the attack vector typically involves convincing users to open malicious PDF attachments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with access to cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data that may be stored in memory during PDF processing. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk, particularly in environments where sensitive documents are processed regularly, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file transfers. The out-of-bounds read condition creates a persistent threat surface where any user interaction with the vulnerable application can potentially result in data leakage, making it a high-priority issue for security teams to address immediately. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory boundary checking in document processing applications, as even seemingly benign PDF files can contain malicious constructs designed to exploit such fundamental memory safety issues.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain patches for this vulnerability, as well as deploying additional security controls such as PDF sandboxing, content filtering, and network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious PDF file activity. Regular security assessments should verify that all systems running Adobe applications are patched and that appropriate security configurations are in place to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against memory safety issues that can compromise system security. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening suspicious PDF files and the importance of keeping software updated to protect against known vulnerabilities.