CVE-2019-8170 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 heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical heap overflow 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 stems from improper input validation within the software's handling of maliciously crafted PDF files, specifically when processing certain embedded objects or streams. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow that occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple PDF file manipulation, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious document. This heap overflow condition falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that has been a persistent concern in software development. The attack surface is broad given the widespread use of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across enterprise environments and personal computing systems. From an operational perspective, exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and persistent access to network resources. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that PDF files are commonly used in business communications, making social engineering attacks more effective. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of compromise, particularly in environments where users regularly open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, which describes how attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The heap overflow vulnerability represents a classic example of how memory corruption issues can be exploited to bypass modern security protections including address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability requires immediate attention and remediation through official Adobe security patches. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities often follows the typical attack pattern where initial compromise leads to lateral movement and privilege escalation within compromised networks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple product versions indicates a systemic issue in the software's memory management practices, highlighting the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews. Given the nature of heap overflows, attackers can potentially craft payloads that specifically target memory layout characteristics of affected systems, making the vulnerability even more dangerous in properly configured environments. The remediation strategy should include immediate patch deployment, user education regarding safe PDF handling practices, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and highlights the ongoing challenges in securing widely used productivity applications that must handle complex file formats with extensive parsing capabilities.