CVE-2017-2964 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier are affected by a memory corruption vulnerability in the image conversion engine related to parsing JPEG EXIF metadata, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2017-2964

There is a memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier, allowing for the execution of arbitrary code.

What is CVE-2017-2964?

This CVE refers to a memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier, specifically in the image conversion engine's handling of JPEG EXIF metadata.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2964

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could permit an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, potentially leading to further compromise or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2964

Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 15.020.20042 and earlier, 15.006.30244 and earlier, and 11.0.18 and earlier are susceptible to a memory corruption vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the image conversion engine's processing of JPEG EXIF metadata, allowing attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Acrobat Reader 15.020.20042 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat Reader 15.006.30244 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat Reader 11.0.18 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious JPEG files containing specially crafted EXIF metadata, which upon parsing by the affected software, could trigger the execution of arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability
Exercise caution when opening files from untrusted or unknown sources Long-Term Security Practices:
Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities
Implement network and endpoint security measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts
Educate users on safe browsing habits and the risks associated with opening files from unfamiliar sources

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to apply the latest patches provided by Adobe to protect their systems.