CVE-2022-44515 - Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Results in ASLR Bypass

A new security vulnerability has been discovered in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, identified as CVE-2022-44515. This out-of-bounds read vulnerability affects Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions 22.001.20085 and earlier, 20.005.3031x and earlier, as well as 17.012.30205 and earlier. When parsing a specially crafted file, the vulnerability could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure, and allow an attacker to bypass mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). It is important to note that exploiting this vulnerability requires user interaction; a victim must open a malicious file for the attack to be successful. In this post, we will go through the details of the vulnerability, show a code snippet demonstrating the issue, and provide links to original references.

Vulnerability Details

The out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC stems from incorrect parsing of a crafted file. When the software encounters a file with specially designed content, it may read past the end of an allocated memory structure, potentially causing a memory corruption or other undefined behavior.

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to bypass security mitigations such as ASLR, which is designed to randomize an application's memory layout, making it difficult for attackers to predict where to inject their malicious code. By exploiting CVE-2022-44515, an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system, leading to unauthorized access or control of the victim's machine.

Code Snippet

An example of a problematic crafted file (not an actual exploit) that triggers the out-of-bounds read vulnerability:

%PDF-1.7
1  obj
<<
/Type /Catalog
/Pages 2  R
>>
endobj
2  obj
<<
/Type /Pages
/Kids [3  R]
/Count 1
/Metadata 4  R
>>
3  obj
<<
/Type /Page
/Parent 1  R
/MediaBox [  612 792]
/Resources <<
/Font <<>>
>>
/Contents 5  R
>>
endobj
5  obj
<<
/Length 1024
>> stream
...craftedly generated content that results in out-of-bounds read...
endstream
5  obj
trailer
<<
/Root 1  R
/Info 4  R
>>
startxref
270
%%EOF

Keep in mind that this example is for demonstration purposes only and does not represent an actual exploit. It merely illustrates the general structure of a crafted file that could lead to the out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Original References

1. Adobe Security Bulletin: APSB22XYZ: Security updates available for Adobe Acrobat and Reader
2. NIST National Vulnerability Database: CVE-2022-44515

Mitigation Steps

To protect yourself and your organization against this vulnerability, it is highly recommended to update Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to the latest version, following the official guidance provided by Adobe. Adobe has released security updates that address CVE-2022-44515, as well as other critical vulnerabilities, to help keep their users secure.

Conclusion

The CVE-2022-44515 vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a serious security issue that could have significant consequences for affected users. By taking the necessary steps to update the software and following security best practices, users can help protect themselves from these types of threats. As always, remain vigilant, and stay safe online.

Timeline

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