Remote code execution in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader

1) Use-after-free error

EUVDB-ID: #VU1391

Risk: Critical

CVSSv3.1: 9.2 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2009-4324

CWE-ID: CWE-416 - Use After Free

Exploit availability: Yes

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The weakness exists due to use-after-free error in the Doc.media.newPlayer method in Multimedia.api. A remote attacker can create a specially crafted .pdf file, trick the victim into opening it, trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code on the target system with privileges of the current user.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability results in arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.

Note: the vulnerability was being actively exploited.

Mitigation

Update Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat 8.1.7 or earlier to version 8.2.
Update Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat 9.2 or earlier to version 9.3.

http://get.adobe.com/reader
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Windows
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=158&platform=Windows
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=112&platform=Windows
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Macintosh

Vulnerable software versions

Adobe Reader: 8.0 - 9.2

Adobe Acrobat: 8.0 - 9.2

External links

http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-07.html
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-02.html

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

How the attacker can exploit this vulnerability?

The attacker would have to trick the victim to visit a specially crafted website or open a file.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.