CVE-2020-9745 in Media Encoder
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Media Encoder version 14.3.2 (and earlier versions) has an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could be exploited to read past the end of an allocated buffer, possibly resulting in a crash or disclosure of sensitive information from other memory locations. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
Adobe Media Encoder 14.3.2 and earlier versions contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, representing an improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input data when processing specific media files or web content, allowing an attacker to manipulate the application's memory access patterns. The flaw occurs during the parsing of malformed or specially crafted media content that triggers the application to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to unpredictable application behavior including crashes, memory corruption, or potential information disclosure from adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited, meaning an attacker must convince a victim to visit a malicious website or open a specifically crafted malicious file that contains the vulnerable code path. This makes the attack vector particularly concerning as it leverages social engineering tactics combined with the technical exploitation of the buffer read flaw. The out-of-bounds read condition creates opportunities for attackers to potentially extract sensitive information from memory, including credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory locations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation may involve crafting malicious media content that triggers the vulnerable code path. The impact extends beyond simple application instability to potential information disclosure that could compromise system security. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to users who frequently process media files from untrusted sources, as the malicious file or web content could be disguised as legitimate media content. Security researchers have classified this as a remote code execution risk when combined with other exploitation techniques, though the current exploit requires user interaction to initiate the attack chain. The buffer overflow characteristics make this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive data processing occurs, as the information disclosure aspect could expose confidential system information. Organizations using Adobe Media Encoder should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability. The flaw demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing applications. This vulnerability underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of media handling components within creative software suites. The exploitation scenario highlights the necessity of user awareness training alongside technical security measures to prevent successful attacks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 emphasizes the fundamental importance of proper bounds checking in memory operations. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Adobe's security patches, implementation of web filtering controls, and user education about avoiding untrusted media content. The vulnerability also demonstrates the broader risk landscape in multimedia applications where complex file parsing can introduce security weaknesses. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement appropriate network segmentation controls to limit potential lateral movement. The technical nature of this flaw makes it particularly challenging to detect through traditional security controls, requiring specialized monitoring and analysis capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping creative software applications updated, as these tools often process untrusted content from multiple sources. The combination of user interaction requirements and potential information disclosure makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where sensitive data processing occurs. The security implications extend beyond immediate exploitation to potential long-term compromise of systems through information leakage.