CVE-2023-44371 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2023-44371 affecting Adobe Acrobat Reader. Discover the impact, technical details, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps to protect your system.
This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-44371, a Use After Free vulnerability affecting Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Understanding CVE-2023-44371
CVE-2023-44371 is a Use After Free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader that allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. It affects versions 23.006.20360 and earlier.
What is CVE-2023-44371?
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 23.006.20360 and earlier are vulnerable to a Use After Free issue that can be exploited through a malicious file, requiring user interaction for execution.
The Impact of CVE-2023-44371
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.8, indicating a high severity level. Attackers could exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to system compromise.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-44371
The vulnerability lies in the font parsing function of Adobe Acrobat Reader, leading to a Use After Free condition that can be triggered by processing a specially crafted file.
Vulnerability Description
The Use After Free vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the user's context, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.
Affected Systems and Versions
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 23.006.20360 and earlier are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Exploiting this vulnerability requires user interaction, where a victim needs to open a malicious file to trigger the Use After Free condition.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-44371, users are advised to take immediate action and implement long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users should update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version, apply patches provided by the vendor, and exercise caution when opening files from unknown or untrusted sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing security best practices such as regular software updates, restricting user privileges, and employing threat detection mechanisms can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
Adobe has released security advisories addressing CVE-2023-44371, urging users to update to the latest version of Acrobat Reader to patch the vulnerability.