CVE-2022-35699 in Adobe
Summary
by MITRE • 09/19/2022
Adobe Bridge version 12.0.2 (and earlier) and 11.1.3 (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 • 10/18/2022
Adobe Bridge applications running version 12.0.2 and earlier, as well as version 11.1.3 and earlier, contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that presents significant security risks to users. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw occurs within the application's file processing mechanisms when handling specially crafted malicious files, creating an opportunity for attackers to execute code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during file parsing operations within Adobe Bridge's core components. When a user opens a maliciously crafted file, the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This memory corruption vulnerability can be exploited to overwrite critical program memory locations, potentially redirecting execution flow to malicious code injected by the attacker. The exploitation requires user interaction through the simple but effective social engineering technique of tricking users into opening the malicious file, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain full control over the affected system. The arbitrary code execution capability allows threat actors to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access to the compromised environment. Given that Adobe Bridge is commonly used for media asset management and creative workflows, attackers could target creative professionals or organizations with valuable digital assets. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions increases the potential attack surface significantly, particularly in enterprise environments where these applications are commonly used for digital content management and workflow automation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Adobe Bridge versions that have addressed this vulnerability, specifically version 12.1.0 or later for the 12.x series and version 11.2.0 or later for the 11.x series. System administrators should implement layered security controls including email filtering to prevent delivery of malicious files, network segmentation to limit lateral movement, and user education to recognize suspicious file attachments. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for unusual file access patterns and implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized software. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and following secure coding practices that prevent memory corruption issues, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios.