Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 23.006.20360 (and earlier) and 20.005.30524 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass mitigations such as ASLR. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file. The severity of this vulnerability is classified as medium with a CVSS score of 5.5, indicating that while it poses a risk, it is not critical.
Risk to organizations includes potential exposure of sensitive information, which may lead to further attacks if attackers are able to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, as successful exploitation could allow unauthorized access to sensitive memory contents.
Given the requirement for user interaction, the likelihood of exploitation may be lower than vulnerabilities that can be exploited without such interaction. However, it remains crucial for organizations to address this vulnerability promptly.
This vulnerability has been officially published and is documented in various security advisories. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader should assess their environments and apply necessary updates.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability in question is classified under CWE-125, which pertains to out-of-bounds read issues. The CVSS vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating a local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and requiring user interaction, with a high confidentiality impact.
Affected products include Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. The vulnerability was published on November 16, 2023, and is classified with medium severity.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read, which occurs when a program reads data outside of the allocated memory bounds. This can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information stored in memory. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have physical or logical access to the victim's machine, typically requiring the victim to open a malicious file. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require advanced skills or resources to exploit.
No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, and user interaction is necessary. The confidentiality impact is assessed as high, while the integrity and availability impacts are none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations that deploy affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader face a risk of sensitive data exposure, particularly if attackers can successfully exploit this vulnerability through social engineering tactics. This risk is heightened in environments where sensitive documents are commonly opened and shared.
The potential blast radius could be extensive, as sensitive data could be accessed, leading to further attacks or data leaks. Therefore, organizations should address this issue as part of their prioritization cycle.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader include: - Acrobat DC versions 15.008.20082 to prior to 23.006.20380 - Acrobat Reader DC versions 15.008.20082 to prior to 23.006.20380 - Acrobat versions 20.001.30005 to 20.005.30539 - Acrobat Reader versions 20.001.30005 to prior to 20.005.30539. If version information is missing, organizations should consider all versions prior to the vendor patch as affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader to mitigate this vulnerability. For more information on patching, refer to Adobe's advisory on the subject.
If a patch is not immediately available, organizations should consider implementing workarounds such as restricting the ability to open untrusted files and enhancing monitoring for suspicious file access.
For further details on security measures, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing to validate their defenses against potential exploitation.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor for the following indicators: - Unusual file access patterns, especially involving PDF documents. - Logs indicating the opening of suspicious or untrusted PDF files. - System changes or behavior anomalies following the opening of such files.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in its potential to serve as an entry point for further attacks if exploited. As attackers continuously look for ways to bypass mitigations, understanding the trends in exploitation is crucial for security teams.
This vulnerability represents a broader pattern of vulnerabilities in widely used applications, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance and robust security practices.
Organizations should take proactive steps to ensure application security, including regular assessments and updates. For more insights on application security, refer to our resources on vulnerability management programs and the importance of continuous security testing.
As this vulnerability highlights, ongoing education and awareness among users about the risks of opening untrusted files is essential for maintaining security posture.
For additional security insights, organizations may also explore our articles on penetration testing methodology and best practices for securing applications.
By prioritizing these efforts, organizations can significantly reduce their risk exposure and enhance their overall security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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