CVE-2019-8205 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 untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8205 affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2019.012.20040, 2017.011.30148, and 2015.006.30503. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from an untrusted pointer dereference condition within the affected software applications. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes specially crafted PDF files that contain maliciously constructed pointers, leading to memory access violations that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the category of memory corruption flaws, specifically classified as CWE-476 which describes "NULL Pointer Dereference" and potentially CWE-825 which addresses "Expired Pointer Dereference." The flaw occurs during the parsing of PDF documents where the application fails to properly validate pointer references before attempting to dereference them, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted input files. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for privilege escalation and can be leveraged to bypass security controls that would normally protect against unauthorized code execution.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2019-8205 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass significant threats to enterprise security infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious PDF files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks. The vulnerability's ability to enable arbitrary code execution means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face substantial risk as this vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where users frequently open PDF documents from various sources.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the techniques related to "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Command and Scripting Interpreter" where attackers leverage such flaws to gain elevated system privileges and execute malicious commands. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, making it a prime candidate for automated attack tools and increasing the potential attack surface significantly. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through patch management processes, as Adobe has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation, email filtering, and user education regarding PDF file handling should be implemented as additional defensive measures to reduce the risk of successful exploitation, particularly in environments where legacy systems may not be immediately patchable.