CVE-2022-28850 in Adobe
Summary
by MITRE • 06/16/2022
Adobe Bridge version 12.0.1 (and earlier versions) is 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2022
Adobe Bridge version 12.0.1 and earlier versions contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that represents a significant security risk to affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws and is classified as CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient input validation leading to out-of-bounds reads. The flaw exists in the application's handling of malformed input files, where the software fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. When a user opens a maliciously crafted file, the application attempts to read memory beyond its allocated boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data from the application's memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can be exploited to bypass critical security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization. This occurs because the out-of-bounds read may inadvertently reveal memory addresses or other sensitive information that can be used to defeat exploit protection mechanisms. The vulnerability requires user interaction for exploitation, meaning that a victim must actively open the malicious file for the attack to succeed, but this social engineering requirement does not eliminate the severity of the flaw. Attackers can craft specially formatted files that trigger the vulnerable code path when processed by Adobe Bridge, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data exfiltration.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The security implications are particularly concerning given that Adobe Bridge is commonly used for media management and creative workflows, making it a likely target for attackers seeking access to creative assets and potentially sensitive corporate data. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that users often trust files from colleagues or clients, making social engineering attacks more effective. Organizations using Adobe Bridge should prioritize immediate patching of this vulnerability, as it represents a direct threat to system integrity and data confidentiality.
The root cause of this issue stems from inadequate bounds checking within the application's file processing routines, specifically in how it handles metadata or file structure parsing. This flaw demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in software development. Security professionals should note that similar vulnerabilities have been observed in other Adobe products, indicating potential architectural issues that may affect multiple applications within the Adobe ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as an out-of-bounds read makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through techniques such as information disclosure attacks and memory corruption exploitation. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Adobe's security patches, implementation of file validation policies, and user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted files. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.