CVE-2019-8175 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 use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical use after free vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8175 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 PDF objects and occurs when the application fails to properly manage memory references after objects have been freed from memory. The flaw represents a classic use after free condition that falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of memory after it has been freed. The vulnerability manifests when maliciously crafted PDF files are processed by the affected software, triggering improper memory management that allows attackers to manipulate freed memory locations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code within the context of the application's privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack vector typically involves tricking users into opening malicious PDF documents, which then trigger the memory corruption during normal document processing operations. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it can enable attackers to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and maintain persistent access to target systems. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation allows for arbitrary code execution that can be used to deploy additional malware or establish backdoors. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader should immediately apply patches from Adobe's security advisory to remediate this vulnerability. The memory management flaw can be addressed through proper input validation, implementing robust memory deallocation procedures, and utilizing modern memory safety techniques such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious PDF files, while monitoring for suspicious document processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in enterprise software and highlights the need for regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation of similar memory corruption issues.