CVE-2022-44517: Unmasking Acrobat Reader DC's Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability and Exploit Details

Summary: Adobe's Acrobat Reader DC, a widely used PDF viewing application, has been shown to be vulnerable to an out-of-bounds read issue that can be exploited to bypass security mechanisms like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). This article will delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and how to mitigate possible exploits involving CVE-2022-44517.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, the popular PDF viewing software, has been found to be susceptible to an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing specially crafted files. This issue has been assigned the identifier CVE-2022-44517. Affected versions include Acrobat Reader DC 22.001.20085 (and earlier), 20.005.3031x (and earlier), and 17.012.30205 (and earlier). This vulnerability could allow an attacker to bypass security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), increasing the risk of a successful exploit.

An out-of-bounds read occurs when a program reads data past the end of an allocated memory structure. This can result in a variety of issues, such as crashes, data leakage, or at worst, remote code execution. Exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning the victim must open a malicious file.

The exploit code snippet may resemble the following

def malicious_pdf():
    # Crafted PDF file that triggers the out-of-bounds read 
    pdf_data = bytearray(b'\x25\x50\x44\x46\x2D ...')
    
    # Vulnerable object or buffer overflow location
    pdf_obj = find_vulnerable_obj(pdf_data)
    
    # Modify PDF object to trigger the vulnerability
    pdf_obj.out_of_bounds_read()

It's important to note that we don't provide a full, working exploit code to prevent misuse. This snippet is just for educational purposes and to show a part of what the vulnerability might look like.

Original References

1. Adobe's official security bulletin for CVE-2022-44517 can be found here: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb22-10.html
2. The CVE database entry for CVE-2022-44517 can be found here: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-44517
3. The National Vulnerability Database (NIST) entry for CVE-2022-44517 can be found here: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-44517

Exploit Details

In order to exploit the vulnerability mentioned in CVE-2022-44517, an attacker would create a malicious PDF file using the vulnerability details provided above. This crafted file would be designed in such a way that when opened by a victim using a vulnerable version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, it would trigger the out-of-bounds read error. This error could be used by the attacker to bypass ASLR, which is a security mitigation technique implemented in modern operating systems to make it more difficult for an attacker to execute malicious code.

Once the attacker has bypassed ASLR, they may be able to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's system. This could lead to various consequences, such as unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of data, or complete takeover of the victim's computer system.

Mitigation

Adobe has addressed this vulnerability in their latest release of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Users are advised to update their software to the latest version in order to protect themselves against the threat posed by CVE-2022-44517. The specific versions which resolve the vulnerability are as follows:

Acrobat Reader DC version 17.012.30206

In addition to updating the software, users should also practice safe browsing habits, such as not opening files or email attachments from unknown or suspicious sources. Furthermore, organizations should implement security measures, such as intrusion detection systems, network segmentation, and regular employee security training to reduce the risk of successful exploits.

Timeline

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