CVE-2021-36067 in Adobe
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2021
Adobe Bridge version 11.1 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious Bridge file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2021
Adobe Bridge version 11.1 and earlier contains a memory corruption vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-36067 that stems from insecure handling of malicious Bridge files. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where improper memory management during file processing creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The flaw exists in the software's file parsing mechanism that fails to properly validate input data when processing Bridge files, allowing maliciously crafted files to trigger memory corruption conditions that can be exploited for code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it requires only user interaction to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. Attackers can deliver malicious Bridge files through social engineering campaigns, email attachments, or compromised websites, where unsuspecting users might open the files with Adobe Bridge. Once opened, the vulnerable software processes the malicious file and triggers the memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further network compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute commands through the compromised application.
The memory corruption occurs during the file processing phase when Adobe Bridge attempts to parse and handle the malicious input without adequate bounds checking or memory validation. This insecure handling creates a potential buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the program's execution flow. The vulnerability represents a critical security gap in Adobe Bridge's input validation mechanisms, where the software fails to implement proper sanitization of file content before processing. Security researchers have identified that the flaw can be triggered through various file formats that Bridge supports, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Bridge should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat requiring immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-36067 include immediate patching of Adobe Bridge to version 11.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes for this memory corruption vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict file access controls and user education programs to reduce the risk of users opening malicious files. Network security measures such as email filtering and web application firewalls can help prevent delivery of malicious Bridge files to end users. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized software can provide defense-in-depth protection. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected Adobe products and ensure comprehensive security coverage across their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in preventing code execution exploits, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.