CVE-2019-8174 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions, including 2019.012.20040 and earlier, are affected by an untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2019-8174

What is CVE-2019-8174?

An untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability has been identified in various versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, potentially allowing the execution of arbitrary code.

The Impact of CVE-2019-8174

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could result in the execution of arbitrary code on the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-8174

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves an untrusted pointer dereference in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions, including 2019.012.20040 and earlier.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Adobe Acrobat and Reader
Vendor: Adobe
Versions affected: 2019.012.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30148 and earlier, 2015.006.30503 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest patched versions.
Exercise caution when opening PDF files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches.
Implement security best practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Adobe Acrobat and Reader are kept up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.