CVE-2022-35700 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 versions 12.0.2 and earlier, as well as 11.1.3 and earlier, contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions where an application writes data past the end of a buffer. The flaw occurs within the application's file processing functionality, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to manipulate memory allocation and overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, effectively providing a complete system compromise vector.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically requiring the victim to open a maliciously crafted file. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1203, which involves exploitation of a software vulnerability through user interaction. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into opening seemingly legitimate files that contain malicious payloads. The malicious files are designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition during normal file processing operations, such as when Bridge attempts to read or parse metadata from the crafted file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the Adobe Bridge application. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to gain full control over the user's system, potentially enabling data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, and further lateral movement within the network. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software increases its attack surface significantly, as organizations with older versions of Bridge remain at risk. Additionally, the out-of-bounds write condition can lead to application crashes or unexpected behavior, which may be exploited for denial-of-service attacks in addition to code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of all affected Adobe Bridge installations to the latest versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all instances of affected versions and ensure timely updates are deployed. Network-based mitigations such as sandboxing the Bridge application and implementing strict file validation policies can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, particularly focusing on unusual file processing activities or unexpected code execution patterns. Regular security awareness training for users should emphasize the importance of not opening suspicious files and verifying the authenticity of attachments before opening them, as this vulnerability specifically requires user interaction for exploitation to succeed.