CVE-2019-8189 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 applications 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 falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically representing an insufficient input validation issue where the software fails to properly validate array indices before accessing memory locations. The flaw occurs when processing maliciously crafted pdf documents that contain malformed data structures, particularly within the document parsing routines that handle various object types and their associated metadata.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker crafting a specially designed pdf file that triggers an out-of-bounds memory read operation when the affected software attempts to parse specific elements within the document structure. When the application processes such a malformed document, it accesses memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may leverage this flaw to extract information that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The out-of-bounds read condition typically occurs during the parsing of embedded objects, streams, or metadata within the pdf file format, where the application's memory management routines fail to validate the bounds of array or buffer access operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents may contain sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or system memory patterns that could be exploited in subsequent attacks. Attackers can potentially use the information disclosure to gain insights into the application's memory layout, which may facilitate more sophisticated exploitation techniques including heap spraying or return-oriented programming attacks. The vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, making it a widespread concern across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios. Organizations using these applications are particularly vulnerable when processing untrusted pdf documents from email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms, as any of these sources could contain maliciously crafted documents designed to exploit this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected versions to the latest security updates provided by Adobe, which typically address the input validation issues through proper bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators should implement strict pdf file validation policies, including the deployment of sandboxing technologies and content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious document characteristics. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and email security gateways should be configured to scan and quarantine pdf files from untrusted sources. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening pdf documents from verified sources and avoiding automatic execution of embedded content within pdf files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation practices in preventing information disclosure attacks, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in other software components.