CVE-2019-8221 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-2019-8221 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This issue manifests in versions including but not limited to 2019.012.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30148 and earlier, and 2015.006.30503 and earlier, creating a significant security risk for users of these applications. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where the software continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-416 category of use after free conditions, which occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed or deallocated. This fundamental memory management error creates a dangerous condition where attackers can manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute arbitrary code. The flaw specifically affects the document processing components of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, particularly when handling maliciously crafted PDF files that trigger the vulnerable code path during parsing operations.
From an operational standpoint, successful exploitation of CVE-2019-8221 can result in complete system compromise, as the vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed across enterprise environments and personal computing devices, making the attack surface extensive. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it can be triggered through simple document opening, requiring minimal user interaction beyond normal PDF viewing activities.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including prompt patching of affected software versions to address the underlying memory management issues. Organizations should also consider network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures including regular software updates, network monitoring, and user education about the dangers of opening untrusted PDF documents. Additionally, implementing least privilege access controls and regular security assessments can help minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.