CVE-2022-28255 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC affecting multiple version ranges including 22.001.2011x and earlier, 20.005.3033x and earlier, and 17.012.3022x and earlier. The issue occurs during the parsing of maliciously crafted files where the application attempts to read memory beyond the boundaries of allocated structures. This fundamental memory safety issue stems from inadequate bounds checking in the file parsing logic, specifically within the PDF processing components that handle document structures and data interpretation. The vulnerability manifests when the reader encounters specially constructed PDF elements that cause the parsing engine to access memory locations that extend beyond the intended data boundaries, creating a predictable pattern of memory access errors that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a specific user interaction scenario where a victim must open a maliciously crafted PDF file, making it a user-initiated attack vector rather than an automated exploitation method. However, the impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as this out-of-bounds read can be leveraged to bypass critical security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization, which is designed to make memory addresses unpredictable and thus harder for attackers to target. The vulnerability's ability to circumvent ASLR stems from the predictable memory access patterns that occur during the out-of-bounds read, potentially allowing attackers to determine memory layout information that would otherwise be randomized. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple security layers are deployed, as it can effectively neutralize one of the primary defenses against exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Adobe Acrobat Reader for document processing, as it provides a potential pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems through social engineering campaigns targeting document opening activities. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that a substantial user base could be exposed to potential exploitation, particularly in enterprise environments where document sharing and processing are common activities. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability can be weaponized in targeted attacks where adversaries craft malicious PDF documents designed to exploit this specific memory access issue, potentially leading to privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, as the vulnerability affects multiple major version lines that have received security updates. System administrators should also consider deploying additional security controls such as email filtering solutions that can identify and block potentially malicious PDF attachments, and implement user education programs to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 identified as Out-of-bounds Read in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, as attackers may leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious code through compromised document processing. Network segmentation and application whitelisting controls can help reduce the attack surface, while regular security assessments should monitor for any indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability pattern.