CVE-2020-3799 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2020.006.20034 and earlier, 2017.011.30158 and earlier, 2017.011.30158 and earlier, 2015.006.30510 and earlier, and 2015.006.30510 and earlier have a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 2020.006.20034 and earlier, 2017.011.30158 and earlier, and 2015.006.30510 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation when processing specially crafted pdf files, specifically within the handling of certain embedded objects or streams that trigger memory allocation errors. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the program's stack memory by providing malicious input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, creating a condition where adjacent memory locations can be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a critical weakness in the CWE dictionary under the category of memory safety issues. The vulnerability exists in the parsing logic of the pdf rendering engine where the application fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers on the stack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the affected application. Attackers can craft malicious pdf documents that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader, will trigger the buffer overflow condition and allow remote code execution. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where users frequently open pdf documents from untrusted sources, making it an attractive target for phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics where users are tricked into opening malicious attachments or visiting compromised websites that deliver the malicious pdf files. The attack surface is broad since pdf documents are widely used across industries and can be easily distributed through email, web downloads, or file sharing systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch management and operational security controls to reduce risk exposure. Organizations must prioritize updating all affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest releases that contain the security patches provided by Adobe. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions and release cycles, so comprehensive inventory management is essential to identify all potentially vulnerable systems. Additional protective measures include implementing pdf sandboxing features, disabling automatic opening of pdf files in web browsers, and deploying email filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious pdf attachments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the buffer overflow to execute arbitrary commands on target systems. Network segmentation and endpoint detection and response solutions should be deployed to monitor for suspicious file execution patterns and potential exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users about the dangers of opening unexpected pdf files is also crucial in reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation.