CVE-2022-42339 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 22.002.20212 (and earlier) and 20.005.30381 (and earlier) are affected by a Stack-based Buffer Overflow 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 • 11/09/2022
Adobe Acrobat Reader remains a widely used application for viewing pdf documents across enterprise environments and individual workstations, making vulnerabilities within its codebase particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective. The stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-42339 specifically affects versions 22.002.20212 and earlier, as well as 20.005.30381 and earlier, representing a critical threat vector that could be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a fixed-length buffer allocated on the stack, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function parameters. The attack scenario requires user interaction through social engineering tactics where victims must open a maliciously crafted pdf file, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in targeted phishing campaigns or supply chain attacks. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specially formatted pdf document that triggers the buffer overflow condition when the vulnerable application attempts to parse specific elements within the document structure, allowing attackers to manipulate the program execution flow and inject malicious code into the memory space of the running Acrobat Reader process. From an operational impact standpoint, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, as the attacker would gain the same privileges as the user running the application, potentially enabling lateral movement within networks, credential theft, or deployment of additional malware payloads. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, which provides a natural defense mechanism through user awareness training and email filtering systems, yet this defense can be bypassed through sophisticated spear-phishing campaigns or compromised legitimate documents. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of unauthorized software, alongside regular patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Acrobat Reader are updated to versions that address this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting how attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to gain code execution on target systems, while also potentially mapping to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for post-exploitation activities. Security professionals should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that monitor for unusual memory access patterns or process injection techniques that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software inventories and understanding the specific version numbers of applications deployed within organizational environments. Given the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat Reader, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations that have not yet applied the necessary security patches, particularly those that have not implemented proper software update policies or automated patch management systems. The stack-based nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through controlled memory corruption techniques, and attackers may leverage tools such as metasploit or custom exploit development frameworks to create reliable attack vectors against unpatched systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected versions while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts that might occur through malicious pdf attachments in email communications or web-based downloads.