CVE-2023-21608: Use After Free Vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader, Leading to Potential Arbitrary Code Execution

Attention to all Adobe Acrobat Reader users: a new vulnerability has been discovered, which could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution on your system under the context of the current user. To be specific, this vulnerability affects the following Adobe Acrobat Reader versions:

20.005.30418 (and earlier)

The official identifier for this specific vulnerability is CVE-2023-21608, which is a Use After Free vulnerability and requires user intervention. To put it simply, a user would have to open a malicious file for the exploitation to occur.

Code Snippet

The following code snippet demonstrates how the Use After Free vulnerability can be exploited within Adobe Acrobat Reader.

function exploit_CVE-2023-21608() {
  let vulnerableObject = new VulnerableObject(); // Simulates the creation of the affected object in the target application
  vulnerableObject.uninit(); // Simulates the affected object's deallocation or destruction
  
  // The following code snippet simulates the usage of the affected object AFTER it has been freed or uninitialized
  vulnerableObject.performAction(); // This call potentially leads to arbitrary code execution
}

This code sample, although a simple representation, clearly shows how using an object after freeing it can lead to issues.

To get more in-depth information about CVE-2023-21608, follow these links to relevant sources

- NIST National Vulnerability Database: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21608
- Adobe Security Bulletin: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb22-12.html
- MITRE CVE Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21608

Exploit Details

As mentioned earlier, exploiting the CVE-2023-21608 vulnerability requires user interaction. For instance, an attacker could send a crafted PDF file to a victim via email, with the malicious code embedded within it. If the victim opens the file using one of the affected Adobe Acrobat Reader versions, the embedded code would then execute, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution under the context of the current user.

It is worth noting that the attacker's success heavily relies on the user's actions and the specific environments (e.g., operating system and Adobe Reader version) in which the affected software runs.

Mitigation Steps

To protect yourself from this vulnerability, it is highly recommended to update your Adobe Acrobat Reader software to the latest available version. By doing so, you will be effectively safeguarding your system from potential attacks exploiting CVE-2023-21608. Adobe has already released patches for these affected versions; find the appropriate update for your system on their official website: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

Always practice caution when opening files from unknown sources and remember to keep all your software up-to-date to minimize exposure to security threats.

In conclusion, CVE-2023-21608 is an important vulnerability to address, as it can lead to potential arbitrary code execution. By updating your Adobe Acrobat Reader software and practicing safe browsing habits, you can minimize the risk of becoming a victim of this exploit. Stay informed, stay updated, and stay safe!

Timeline

Published on: 01/18/2023 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 01/26/2023 18:17:00 UTC