CVE-2022-27788 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2022
Acrobat Reader DC versions 22.001.20085 (and earlier), 20.005.3031x (and earlier) and 17.012.30205 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds write 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 out-of-bounds write flaw in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC across multiple version ranges including 22.001.20085 and earlier, 20.005.3031x and earlier, and 17.012.30205 and earlier. The flaw resides in the document parsing functionality that processes pdf files, specifically when handling malformed or crafted input data. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write which occurs when a program writes data past the end of a valid buffer location. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to process specially crafted pdf documents that contain malformed structures or data sequences that exceed expected buffer boundaries during parsing operations.
The exploitation scenario requires user interaction through social engineering tactics where victims must open a maliciously crafted pdf file. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in targeted attack campaigns where adversaries can leverage phishing emails or malicious websites to deliver payloads. Once opened, the out-of-bounds write condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations which can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user context, potentially enabling full system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Acrobat Reader for document processing. The attack vector through user interaction means that successful exploitation can occur in any environment where users regularly open pdf documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability affects multiple major release lines, indicating a widespread exposure across different Acrobat Reader versions. Security teams must consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling exercises and incident response procedures, as it provides a pathway for persistent threat actors to establish footholds within networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education about avoiding suspicious pdf attachments and implementing email filtering solutions to prevent delivery of malicious documents. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content inspection systems can help detect and block malicious pdf files before they reach end users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce attack surface exposure. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual pdf processing activities and potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory access patterns or code execution events.