CVE-2024-20730 in Acrobat 2020
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2024
Acrobat Reader versions 20.005.30539, 23.008.20470 and earlier are affected by an Integer Overflow or Wraparound 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 • 02/15/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical integer overflow condition affecting Adobe Acrobat Reader across multiple version ranges including 20.005.30539, 23.008.20470 and earlier releases. The flaw manifests as an integer wraparound issue that can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution when a user opens a specially crafted malicious file. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190 which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions and their potential exploitation pathways. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and input validation, where improper bounds checking allows an attacker to manipulate integer values beyond their intended range, creating opportunities for buffer overflows or other memory corruption exploits. The requirement for user interaction makes this a typical client-side attack vector that relies on social engineering or phishing techniques to deliver malicious documents to unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it represents a privilege escalation risk when considering the context of the current user. When exploited, the vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially enabling full system compromise if that user has elevated permissions. This attack pattern conforms to ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1203 which addresses exploitation for client execution through malicious document delivery. The integer overflow occurs during file processing operations within Acrobat Reader's document parsing mechanisms, where numeric values used for memory allocation or buffer sizing become corrupted due to wraparound conditions that exceed maximum representable integer values.
Security professionals must recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader category of memory safety issues that continue to plague software applications across various platforms. The exploitability characteristics indicate that attackers can leverage this vulnerability through document-based delivery methods, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions as the primary defense mechanism, with additional controls including email filtering solutions that can identify and quarantine malicious PDF files before they reach end users. Network-based detection measures using signature-based systems should also be implemented to monitor for known indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, while user education programs can help reduce successful exploitation through awareness of social engineering tactics used to deliver malicious documents. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Acrobat Reader to trusted environments and maintain regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar integer overflow conditions in other software components that may present analogous risks.