External risk intelligence

Adobe Reader and Acrobat Code Execution Vulnerability.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2013-3346

Adobe Reader and Acrobat are impacted by a memory corruption vulnerability. This could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service, posing a risk to organizational systems and data.

1Halo Surface Signal

Out-of-bounds Write

Adobe Acrobat

9.0 to before 9.5.510.0 to before 10.1.711.0 to before 11.0.03

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2013-3346

This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat, which are client-side desktop applications used to view documents. These are local applications installed on end-user devices, not network services, edge gateways, or internet-facing portals, and they do not have public network exposure in typical deployment patterns.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Adobe Reader and Acrobat are vulnerable to a memory corruption flaw that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. This vulnerability arises from an unspecified flaw within the software's handling of certain data. The potential impact includes the compromise of organizational systems and data.

  • Vulnerable software: Adobe Reader and Acrobat
  • Core weakness: Memory corruption
  • Main business impact: Arbitrary code execution or denial of service

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability allows an attacker to compromise systems running Adobe Reader and Acrobat. The attack path begins with an exposure condition where the software is vulnerable. An attacker can then gain access and trigger the vulnerability through specific actions, leading to the execution of arbitrary code or a denial-of-service condition. This can result in significant business risk for affected organizations due to potential data compromise or system disruption.

  • Exposure condition: Vulnerable software installed.
  • Attacker starting point: Unspecified vectors.
  • Trigger and result: Arbitrary code execution or memory corruption.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution or denial of service by exploiting memory corruption in Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Attackers could leverage this to compromise affected systems, potentially leading to data loss or disruption of operations. The complexity of exploitation is low, and the potential impact is significant, making it a considerable risk.

  • Attackers with low skill level.
  • No access or conditions needed.
  • Business risk is high; treat as urgent.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on affected systems. Organizations should take action to identify and mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability to protect business operations and data. Understanding the scope of affected assets is the first step in addressing this issue.

  • Find affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat assets.
  • Reduce exposure or isolate risk.
  • Apply vendor fix, verify, and monitor.

Frequently asked questions

What are Adobe Reader and Acrobat used for?

Adobe Reader and Acrobat are software applications designed for viewing, interacting with, and managing PDF (Portable Document Format) files. They are widely used for reading documents, filling out forms, and digitally signing papers.

How does CVE-2013-3346 cause harm?

CVE-2013-3346 is a memory corruption vulnerability. This type of weakness can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service, meaning the software could crash or become unresponsive.

What are the attacker's preconditions for exploiting CVE-2013-3346?

The specific vectors for exploitation are not detailed, but the vulnerability exists in how the software handles certain data. It does not require any special access or conditions for an attacker to trigger.

Who needs to care about CVE-2013-3346?

Organizations running Adobe Reader and Acrobat should care. Because these are typically client-side applications on end-user devices and not internet-facing services, the risk is generally considered very unlikely to be exploited through direct network access.

What is the first step to address this vulnerability?

The initial step is to identify all systems within your organization that have the affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat installed. Once identified, you can then plan for mitigation, such as applying vendor updates.

References