CVE-2021-36079 in Context
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2021
Adobe Bridge version 11.1 (and earlier) is affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing a crafted .SGI file, which could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute code 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 • 09/04/2021
Adobe Bridge version 11.1 and earlier contains a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-36079 that stems from improper handling of crafted .SGI image files during parsing operations. This vulnerability resides in the memory management logic where the application fails to properly validate buffer boundaries when processing structured graphics image file formats. The flaw manifests as an insufficient bounds checking mechanism that allows an attacker to craft a malicious SGI file containing malformed data sequences that cause the application to read memory beyond the allocated buffer limits. Such out-of-bounds memory access patterns create predictable conditions that can be exploited to trigger arbitrary code execution within the context of the currently logged-in user account. The vulnerability operates under CWE-129 which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, and more broadly aligns with CWE-125 which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk as it requires only user interaction to exploit, meaning a victim must simply open the malicious file within Adobe Bridge for the attack to succeed. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems through legitimate software applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning because Adobe Bridge is commonly used for media management and file organization tasks, making it a frequent target for social engineering campaigns where attackers might disguise malicious SGI files as legitimate image assets. The memory corruption resulting from this out-of-bounds read creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow, potentially leading to privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Adobe Bridge runs with the privileges of the current user, meaning successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious code with the same permissions as the victim's account. Security researchers have identified that the root cause lies in the application's lack of proper input sanitization during the SGI file parsing routine, where the software does not adequately validate the size and structure of image headers before attempting to read data from memory locations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing applications that handle external file formats. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specially designed SGI file with malformed metadata that triggers the buffer overflow condition when Adobe Bridge attempts to parse the file's header information. Once the out-of-bounds read occurs, attackers can leverage the resulting memory corruption to overwrite critical program execution pointers or inject malicious code into the application's memory space. Organizations using Adobe Bridge should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability and implement additional controls such as application whitelisting to prevent execution of untrusted files. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of file parsing routines, particularly those handling legacy or proprietary file formats that may not receive the same level of security scrutiny as more common file types. From a defensive standpoint, network segmentation and user education regarding suspicious file attachments remain important mitigations while awaiting official patches from Adobe to address this critical memory safety issue affecting the software's image processing capabilities.