CVE-2024-30280 - Acrobat Reader Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability Allows for Malicious Code Execution

Adobe Acrobat Reader, a widely-used software for viewing, printing, and commenting on Portable Document Format (PDF) files, has been found to contain a critical vulnerability within versions 20.005.30574, 24.002.20736 and earlier. This out-of-bounds read vulnerability, referred to as CVE-2024-30280, poses a significant security risk to users and has the potential to result in malicious code execution when parsing specially crafted PDF files.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability in question arises when the software attempts to parse a maliciously crafted PDF file, causing a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. This is referred to as an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Importantly, this type of vulnerability can enable an attacker to execute code within the victim's context.

The exploitation of this vulnerability relies on user interaction, meaning that the victim must open a malicious PDF file. Consequently, individuals who receive an unknown or suspicious PDF file runs the risk of being exploited if they opt to open the document.

Code Snippet

The following is a simplified and high-level demonstration of the vulnerability. The code snippet displays an out-of-bounds read in the parse_crafted_file function.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void parse_crafted_file(char *input_buf, unsigned int input_buf_len) {
    char *buf = (char *)malloc(input_buf_len);
    memcpy(buf, input_buf, input_buf_len);

    int index = ;
    while (index < input_buf_len) {
        char cur_char = buf[index];
        // Potentially dangerous out-of-bounds read
        char next_char = buf[index + 1];

        // ... More code here ...

        index++;
    }

    free(buf);
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    if (argc != 2) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s <crafted_file>\n", argv[]);
        return 1;
    }

    FILE *file = fopen(argv[1], "rb");
    if (file == NULL) {
        perror("Error opening file");
        return 1;
    }

    fseek(file, , SEEK_END);
    unsigned int file_size = ftell(file);
    fseek(file, , SEEK_SET);

    char *file_buf = (char *)malloc(file_size);
    fread(file_buf, 1, file_size, file);
    fclose(file);

    parse_crafted_file(file_buf, file_size);

    free(file_buf);
    return ;
}

Original References

- Adobe Security Bulletin - APSB22-06
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) - CVE-2024-30280

Exploit Details and Recommendations

To reduce the potential risk of exploitation, it is highly recommended that users update their Adobe Acrobat Reader software to the latest version. Adobe has released patches for the affected versions, which can be found in their Security Bulletin (APSB22-06). Additionally, users should exercise caution when opening PDF files from unfamiliar sources to limit the risk of exposure to this vulnerability.

In conclusion, CVE-2024-30280 is a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects specific versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Users are urged to update their software and remain cautious when opening PDF files from unknown sources to best protect against potential exploitation.

Timeline

Published on: 05/23/2024 09:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 06/04/2024 17:39:22 UTC