CVE-2022-28253 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2022
Acrobat Reader DC version 22.001.2011x (and earlier), 20.005.3033x (and earlier) and 17.012.3022x (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing a crafted file, which could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. 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 • 05/14/2022
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions 22.001.2011x and earlier, 20.005.3033x and earlier, and 17.012.3022x and earlier, representing a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that can be exploited through malicious file manipulation. The technical implementation involves parsing of crafted files where the application fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during memory operations, leading to a situation where the program attempts to read data beyond the allocated memory structure. This memory access violation occurs specifically during file parsing operations and represents a classic buffer over-read condition that falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which is categorized as "Out-of-bounds Read" in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The vulnerability demonstrates particular concern as it can be leveraged to bypass important security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization, which is a fundamental defense mechanism against exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it requires only user interaction to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. An attacker must convince a victim to open a maliciously crafted file, which typically would be delivered through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails or malicious attachments. Once opened, the vulnerable parsing routine triggers the out-of-bounds read condition, potentially allowing an attacker to extract memory contents that could reveal information about the system's memory layout. This extracted information can then be used to circumvent ASLR protections by revealing memory addresses that would otherwise be randomized, effectively undermining the security mechanism designed to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard user interactions, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, indicating a widespread exposure across different product releases and suggesting that the underlying code flaw has persisted through various development cycles. This persistence makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it affects not just the latest versions but also older releases that organizations may still be using due to compatibility requirements or delayed upgrade cycles. Security practitioners should note that the vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, which means traditional network-based defenses may not be sufficient to prevent exploitation, and user education becomes a critical component of defense. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code through user interaction. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected versions and implement additional controls such as email filtering, file type restrictions, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns to mitigate the risk of exploitation.