CVE-2021-28596 in Framemaker
Summary
by MITRE • 08/24/2021
Adobe Framemaker version 2020.0.1 (and earlier) and 2019.0.8 (and earlier) are affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2021
Adobe Framemaker versions 2020.0.1 and earlier, along with 2019.0.8 and earlier, contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for enterprise environments. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 category of out-of-bounds write conditions, where the application fails to properly validate input data during file parsing operations. The flaw occurs when the software processes specially crafted malicious files that contain malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious documents through email attachments, file sharing platforms, or web downloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious file that triggers the out-of-bounds write condition during the parsing process. When a victim opens this specially crafted file, the application's memory management fails to properly bounds-check array accesses, allowing arbitrary data to be written beyond the allocated memory buffer. This memory corruption can be manipulated to overwrite critical program structures or function pointers, ultimately enabling remote code execution with the privileges of the current user. The attack vector requires user interaction, meaning victims must actively open the malicious file, but this requirement does not mitigate the overall risk as users may inadvertently encounter such files in routine operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Framemaker for document creation and editing tasks. The ability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user means that attackers could potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability affects both major versions of the software, indicating a widespread exposure across enterprise environments where Framemaker is deployed. Organizations that have not yet patched their systems remain vulnerable to exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where users frequently exchange documents or access external content sources.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate patching of affected Adobe Framemaker installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to ensure all software components receive timely updates and security patches. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing file validation controls and user education programs to reduce the risk of users inadvertently opening malicious files. Network-based controls such as email filtering and web content filtering can help prevent the delivery of malicious files to end users, while endpoint detection and response solutions can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of remote services, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters, as the successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems through the vulnerable application.