CVE-2022-44514 is a security vulnerability classified as a critical use-after-free issue in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, a popular PDF viewer application. The affected versions are: 22.001.20085 (and earlier), 20.005.3031x (and earlier), and 17.012.30205 (and earlier). Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could potentially enable an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system, in the context of the current user.

The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, such as opening a malicious file. In this post, we will discuss the details of the vulnerability, relevant code snippets, links to original references, and details about potential exploits.

Vulnerability Details

The use-after-free vulnerability occurs when a program continues to use a memory location after it has been freed or de-allocated. This can have exploitable effects, such as arbitrary code execution if an attacker can leverage the control over the freed memory.

In the case of CVE-2022-44514, the Acrobat Reader DC application specifically suffers from inadequate handling of certain data structures when processing PDF files. This can potentially lead to a use-after-free condition, which an attacker can exploit to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine.

Code Snippet

The vulnerability exists due to an error in the way the affected versions of Acrobat Reader DC process and manipulate PDF files. This could manifest itself when an attacker crafts a malicious PDF file and embeds specific data structures that can trigger the use-after-free condition.

While the exact code snippets associated with the vulnerability are not available to the public, the following example demonstrates how the vulnerability might be exploited by an attacker:

function exploit(reader){
  // Craft a malicious PDF file
  var malicious_pdf = createMaliciousPdf();

  // Open the malicious PDF file, potentially triggering the use-after-free vulnerability
  reader.open(malicious_pdf);

  // Attempt to execute arbitrary code leveraging the vulnerability
  execute_arbitrary_code();
}

Original References

Adobe has acknowledged this vulnerability and released a security bulletin APSB22-20 addressing the issue. The bulletin provides details about the affected software and version numbers, as well as information about the patches and updates available to mitigate the vulnerability.

Furthermore, the MITRE website provides additional information about the vulnerability and its classification under the CVE-2022-44514 identifier.

Exploit Details

To exploit the CVE-2022-44514 vulnerability, an attacker would have to craft a malicious PDF file that includes data structures specifically designed to trigger the use-after-free condition. The attacker would then have to distribute this file to potential victims using methods like email attachments, drive-by downloads, or social engineering schemes.

Once a victim opens the malicious PDF file with a vulnerable version of Acrobat Reader DC, the use-after-free condition will be triggered, creating a scenario where the attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code on the victim's system.

Given the high number of Acrobat Reader users worldwide, it's crucial for affected users to update to the latest software versions to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. Adobe has provided patches and updates for the affected software, and users are advised to apply these updates as soon as possible.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-44514 is a critical use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, which can lead to arbitrary code execution under specific circumstances. Affected users should immediately apply security patches released by Adobe to mitigate the risk.

By staying informed of the latest vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2022-44514, and regularly updating software with the most recent patches, users can minimize the risks associated with such threats and maintain a secure computing environment.

Timeline

Published on: 12/19/2024 00:15:05 UTC