CVE-2020-9596 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2020.006.20042 and earlier, 2017.011.30166 and earlier, 2017.011.30166 and earlier, and 2015.006.30518 and earlier have a security bypass vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to security feature bypass.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a security bypass vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 2020.006.20042 and earlier, 2017.011.30166 and earlier, and 2015.006.30518 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of certain security mechanisms that are designed to protect against unauthorized access and malicious file processing. The flaw allows attackers to potentially circumvent critical security controls that would normally prevent execution of malicious code or access to restricted system resources. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of file processing sequences and insufficient enforcement of security policies during document rendering operations. This security bypass affects the application's ability to properly isolate potentially malicious content and maintain secure execution boundaries. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the core security layer of the application where document parsing and rendering occur, potentially allowing adversaries to bypass sandboxing mechanisms and other protective measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves weaknesses in how Adobe Reader and Acrobat handle specific file format parsing operations that lead to improper security state management. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially formatted documents that manipulate the application's internal security checks. The vulnerability allows for bypassing controls that would normally prevent execution of potentially harmful code during document processing. This weakness is classified under CWE-284 Access Control Bypass, which specifically addresses insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to resources or functionality. The exploitation chain typically involves creating malicious PDF files that exploit the flawed validation logic, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code or gain elevated privileges within the application's security context. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient state management during document processing, creating opportunities for privilege escalation through carefully crafted malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple document processing security concerns to potentially enable more serious attacks including remote code execution and privilege escalation. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls designed to protect against malicious file execution. The security bypass could allow adversaries to access sensitive data, execute unauthorized commands, or establish persistent access within the compromised system. This vulnerability affects enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently processed, creating potential attack vectors for lateral movement and data exfiltration. The impact is particularly severe given that Adobe Reader is widely deployed across organizations and users, making the attack surface extensive. Security controls that rely on Adobe Reader's built-in protections may be rendered ineffective, potentially exposing systems to advanced persistent threats.
Organizations should immediately update to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to address this vulnerability, as Adobe has released patches specifically targeting this security bypass issue. The recommended mitigation includes implementing mandatory software updates and establishing robust patch management processes to ensure all affected systems are protected. Security teams should also consider deploying network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to detect and block malicious PDF files. Additionally, organizations should implement user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening untrusted PDF documents and the importance of maintaining updated software versions. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that the patching process is complete and effective. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential consequences of running outdated software versions. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and sandboxing to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely security updates and proper vulnerability management processes in maintaining enterprise security posture.