CVE-2021-36068 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2021
Adobe Bridge version 11.1 and earlier contains a memory corruption vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-36068 that arises from insecure handling of malicious Bridge files. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow category, where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory allocation and execution flow. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted Bridge files that contain malformed data structures, leading to unpredictable memory corruption patterns that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning that a malicious file must be opened or processed by an unsuspecting user for the attack to succeed. This interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1203, which involves exploitation of a software vulnerability through user interaction. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into opening malicious Bridge files through email attachments, download links, or compromised websites. The vulnerability's impact is significant as it allows for privilege escalation to the user level without requiring administrative rights, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have access to sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during file parsing operations within Adobe Bridge's file handling components. When processing Bridge files, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of data elements, allowing attackers to craft malicious inputs that exceed allocated memory buffers. This insecure memory handling pattern creates opportunities for stack or heap corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses or function pointers. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes, as the attack can occur within the trusted Adobe Bridge application context.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of Adobe Bridge installations to address CVE-2021-36068, as the vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can lead to complete system compromise. System administrators should implement strict file access controls and user education programs to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks. The recommended mitigation strategy includes deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of unauthorized Bridge files, monitoring for suspicious file access patterns, and maintaining up-to-date antivirus signatures that can detect malicious Bridge file variants. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and reducing user privileges can help minimize the potential impact should an attacker successfully exploit this vulnerability, aligning with the principle of least privilege as outlined in cybersecurity best practices.