CVE-2020-9609 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 an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2020.006.20042 and earlier, 2017.011.30166 and earlier, and 2015.006.30518 and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed pdf files and represents a classic buffer over-read condition that allows attackers to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw occurs when the software processes specially crafted pdf documents that contain malformed data structures, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns that can reveal sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially expose sensitive data such as encryption keys, user credentials, or system memory contents that may be leveraged by adversaries for further exploitation. Attackers can craft malicious pdf files that trigger this vulnerability when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Acrobat or Reader, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where social engineering can be employed to deliver these malicious documents. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it affects widely deployed enterprise software that handles sensitive documents across various industries including finance, healthcare, and government sectors. The vulnerability aligns with several tactics in the attack chain as outlined in the ATT&CK framework, particularly in the initial access and execution phases where adversaries can deliver malicious pdf files through email attachments or web downloads to compromise systems. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face heightened risk of data breaches and information disclosure incidents, especially in environments where pdf documents are frequently exchanged and processed. The vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and memory management within the pdf processing engine, highlighting the importance of proper bounds checking and memory safety practices in software development. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of all affected versions, implementation of pdf file scanning and validation procedures, and deployment of network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting pdf file handling capabilities in high-risk environments to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized execution of potentially malicious documents. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex document processing software and underscores the critical need for regular security updates and comprehensive vulnerability management programs in enterprise environments.