CVE-2022-34216 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 22.001.20142 (and earlier), 20.005.30334 (and earlier) and 17.012.30229 (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 • 08/01/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical use after free vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the application's handling of PDF objects, specifically when processing malformed or maliciously crafted PDF files. The flaw occurs when the software frees memory associated with a PDF object but continues to reference that memory location, creating a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory to execute malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it highly exploitable in phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. The affected versions include Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.001.20142 and earlier, 20.005.30334 and earlier, and 17.012.30229 and earlier, representing a significant portion of the user base that would be impacted by this flaw. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in memory management. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with a potent attack vector that can bypass traditional security measures since it operates within the context of the user's session. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the file, making it particularly effective for targeted attacks. This vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through spearphishing attachments and execution through malicious file opening. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow full system compromise, as the attacker can leverage the application's privileges to access sensitive data, establish persistence, or escalate privileges. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems including windows, macos, and linux platforms where Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions to prevent exploitation, as no effective workarounds exist for this memory management flaw. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing document processing applications, where the complexity of parsing PDF structures creates numerous potential attack surfaces. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, particularly unusual file execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The presence of this vulnerability in widely used software underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defense strategies. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files and deploy endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments of commonly used productivity applications that handle untrusted content. This particular flaw represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users regularly process documents from external sources, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish long-term access to sensitive networks. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in data exfiltration, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within the network. Given the widespread deployment of Adobe Acrobat Reader across organizations, the potential impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond individual user exposure to encompass entire enterprise security postures. Security professionals should implement comprehensive monitoring procedures to detect any attempts to exploit this vulnerability through malicious document delivery methods.