CVE-2019-8207 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 CWE-129, which represents an insufficient validation of length of input, and specifically manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition within the PDF parsing functionality. The flaw occurs when the applications process specially crafted PDF documents that contain malformed data structures, particularly in the way they handle array indexing or buffer boundaries during document parsing operations. When a malicious user crafts a PDF file with manipulated data that exceeds expected buffer limits, the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users unknowingly open malicious PDF files, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents could include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged for further attacks. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users frequently encounter PDF documents from untrusted sources, and the exploitation can occur without any user interaction beyond opening the malicious file. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as it typically requires user interaction through malicious document delivery. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, implement strict PDF document scanning and filtering mechanisms, and educate users about the risks of opening suspicious PDF files from unknown sources. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in document processing applications, aligning with industry standards that emphasize the need for defensive programming techniques to prevent buffer overflows and out-of-bounds memory access conditions. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF file patterns and monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.