CVE-2019-8214 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 • 01/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8214 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability manifests in the handling of memory management within the affected applications, specifically in the way they process certain file formats and objects. The issue stems from improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to previously freed memory locations, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects versions including but not limited to 2019.012.20040, 2017.011.30148, and 2015.006.30503, indicating a widespread impact across multiple software releases and spanning several years of development cycles. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious PDF file or document that triggers the flawed memory management behavior during processing. When Adobe Acrobat or Reader attempts to handle such a crafted file, the application may free a memory block while still maintaining references to it, creating a scenario where subsequent operations can access this freed memory. This condition allows attackers to manipulate the application's memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where users are tricked into opening malicious documents, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise and organizational environments where document sharing is common.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8214 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, install malware, modify system configurations, or establish persistence mechanisms within the target environment. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that organizations with legacy systems or delayed patch management processes face significant exposure risk. Network administrators and security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within networks, as compromised systems can serve as launching points for broader attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpreter usage, as attackers may use the arbitrary code execution capability to deploy additional payloads or establish backdoors.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Adobe security patches, as these updates address the underlying memory management issues that enable the exploitation. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all instances of affected software are updated promptly. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious PDF file handling activities or unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting controls and restricting user privileges can help mitigate the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting software vulnerabilities.