CVE-2021-40697 in Framemaker
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2021
Adobe Framemaker versions 2019 Update 8 (and earlier) and 2020 Release Update 2 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass mitigations such as ASLR. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2021
Adobe Framemaker versions 2019 Update 8 and earlier, as well as 2020 Release Update 2 and earlier, contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-40697. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the application's handling of specially crafted file formats, specifically affecting the document parsing mechanisms that process structured content. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data stored in adjacent memory segments. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure and potential privilege escalation scenarios.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple information disclosure, as the memory disclosure can reveal critical information such as stack canaries, heap addresses, or other security-related data that would normally be protected from direct access. This exposure directly undermines modern exploit mitigations including Address Space Layout Randomization, which relies on memory addresses being unpredictable and inaccessible to attackers. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially gather enough information to bypass ASLR protections and subsequently craft more sophisticated attacks against the target system. The attack vector requires user interaction, specifically that a victim must open a maliciously crafted file, making this a classic social engineering target that combines file format exploitation with user behavior manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-40697 is significant within enterprise environments where Adobe Framemaker is widely deployed for document creation and editing tasks. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face potential exposure to attackers who could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate documents or extract information that could aid in further attacks. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to potentially escalate privileges or access other system resources through the memory disclosure, particularly when combined with other exploitation techniques. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where sensitive data is frequently processed through Framemaker applications, as the memory disclosure could potentially expose confidential information or system configurations.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches to address this vulnerability in all affected versions of Adobe Framemaker. System administrators should implement additional controls such as application whitelisting to prevent execution of untrusted files and consider deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate document processing activities. Network-based mitigations including content filtering and email scanning should be enhanced to detect and block potentially malicious files before they reach end users. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security practices including regular patch management, user security awareness training, and implementing principle of least privilege access controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, particularly leveraging memory corruption techniques to bypass security controls. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to prevent exploitation attempts.