CVE-2022-24104 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2022
Acrobat Reader DC versions 20.001.20085 (and earlier), 20.005.3031x (and earlier) and 17.012.30205 (and earlier) are affected by a use-after-free vulnerability that could result in 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 • 05/14/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC affecting multiple version ranges including 20.001.20085 and earlier, 20.005.3031x and earlier, and 17.012.30205 and earlier. The flaw occurs when the application processes maliciously crafted PDF files, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is a well-established class of memory safety issues where program code continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, creating opportunities for memory corruption and code execution. The attack requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a typical social engineering target that leverages the trust users place in document viewing applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating the PDF parsing process to trigger a use-after-free condition in the application's memory management. When Acrobat Reader encounters a specially crafted PDF file containing malformed objects or improper memory references, the application may free memory associated with certain objects while still maintaining pointers to those locations. Attackers can then manipulate the memory layout to overwrite critical data structures or function pointers, ultimately redirecting execution flow to malicious code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the user's privileges, allowing attackers to perform actions such as file manipulation, credential theft, or further system compromise without requiring administrative rights.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-24104 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat vector for enterprise environments where Acrobat Reader is commonly deployed for document viewing. Organizations that rely heavily on PDF document sharing, including financial institutions, government agencies, and legal firms, face heightened risk from this vulnerability. The requirement for user interaction makes it susceptible to phishing campaigns and targeted attacks where malicious PDF attachments are delivered through email or compromised websites. This attack pattern aligns with the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution tactics, specifically mapping to techniques such as spearphishing with malicious attachments and exploitation of vulnerabilities in software applications. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams indicates a widespread exposure that affects both newer and legacy deployments of Adobe Reader.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to prevent exploitation. Adobe has released security updates addressing this issue, and organizations must ensure all instances of Acrobat Reader DC are updated to versions that contain the necessary memory management fixes. Network-based mitigations such as email filtering and web proxy restrictions can help reduce the likelihood of users encountering malicious PDF files, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious PDF processing activities. Additionally, security awareness training for users to recognize suspicious email attachments and avoid opening untrusted PDF documents remains crucial. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free issue also highlights the importance of implementing memory safety practices in software development, including the adoption of modern programming languages with built-in memory safety features or the use of automated tools to detect similar issues in existing codebases. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized PDF viewers and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.