CVE-2019-8044
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a double free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability affects multiple versions across different release tracks. Users who open malicious PDF files with vulnerable versions are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
- Adobe Acrobat 2017
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 2017
- Adobe Acrobat 2015
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 2015
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining full control of the affected system, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Remote code execution when a user opens a malicious PDF document, leading to malware installation, credential theft, or system disruption.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if systems are properly segmented, users have limited privileges, and security controls block malicious PDFs at the perimeter.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening a malicious PDF) but no authentication. The double free vulnerability requires careful memory manipulation to achieve reliable code execution.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2019.012.20036, 2017.011.30144, 2015.006.30499 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb19-41.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe Acrobat or Reader. 2. Go to Help > Check for Updates. 3. Follow the prompts to install available updates. 4. Restart the application. Alternatively, download and install the latest version from Adobe's website.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader
allPrevents JavaScript-based exploitation vectors that might be used to trigger the vulnerability
Edit > Preferences > JavaScript > Uncheck 'Enable Acrobat JavaScript'
Use Protected View
allOpen PDFs in Protected View to limit potential damage from malicious files
File > Properties > Security > Enable Protected View for files from potentially unsafe locations
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict PDF file handling to sandboxed environments or virtual machines
- Implement application whitelisting to block unauthorized PDF readers
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Open Adobe Acrobat/Reader, go to Help > About Adobe Acrobat/Reader and compare version numbers with affected rangesCheck Version:
On Windows: wmic product where "name like 'Adobe Acrobat%'" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Check that version is 2019.012.20036+, 2017.011.30144+, or 2015.006.30499+📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes in Adobe Acrobat/Reader logs
- Unexpected process creation from Acrobat/Reader processes
- Memory access violations in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of PDF files from suspicious sources
- Outbound connections from Acrobat/Reader processes to unknown IPs
SIEM Query:
source="*acrobat*" OR source="*reader*" AND (event_type="crash" OR process_name="cmd.exe" OR process_name="powershell.exe")