Vulnerabilities > CVE-2020-9611 - Resource Exhaustion vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat DC

047910
CVSS 5.5 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
NONE
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
HIGH
local
low complexity
adobe
CWE-400
nessus

Summary

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2020.006.20042 and earlier, 2017.011.30166 and earlier, 2017.011.30166 and earlier, and 2015.006.30518 and earlier have a stack exhaustion vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to application denial-of-service.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Adobe
234
OS
Apple
1
OS
Microsoft
1

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • XML Ping of the Death
    An attacker initiates a resource depletion attack where a large number of small XML messages are delivered at a sufficiently rapid rate to cause a denial of service or crash of the target. Transactions such as repetitive SOAP transactions can deplete resources faster than a simple flooding attack because of the additional resources used by the SOAP protocol and the resources necessary to process SOAP messages. The transactions used are immaterial as long as they cause resource utilization on the target. In other words, this is a normal flooding attack augmented by using messages that will require extra processing on the target.
  • XML Entity Expansion
    An attacker submits an XML document to a target application where the XML document uses nested entity expansion to produce an excessively large output XML. XML allows the definition of macro-like structures that can be used to simplify the creation of complex structures. However, this capability can be abused to create excessive demands on a processor's CPU and memory. A small number of nested expansions can result in an exponential growth in demands on memory.
  • Inducing Account Lockout
    An attacker leverages the security functionality of the system aimed at thwarting potential attacks to launch a denial of service attack against a legitimate system user. Many systems, for instance, implement a password throttling mechanism that locks an account after a certain number of incorrect log in attempts. An attacker can leverage this throttling mechanism to lock a legitimate user out of their own account. The weakness that is being leveraged by an attacker is the very security feature that has been put in place to counteract attacks.
  • Violating Implicit Assumptions Regarding XML Content (aka XML Denial of Service (XDoS))
    XML Denial of Service (XDoS) can be applied to any technology that utilizes XML data. This is, of course, most distributed systems technology including Java, .Net, databases, and so on. XDoS is most closely associated with web services, SOAP, and Rest, because remote service requesters can post malicious XML payloads to the service provider designed to exhaust the service provider's memory, CPU, and/or disk space. The main weakness in XDoS is that the service provider generally must inspect, parse, and validate the XML messages to determine routing, workflow, security considerations, and so on. It is exactly these inspection, parsing, and validation routines that XDoS targets. There are three primary attack vectors that XDoS can navigate Target CPU through recursion: attacker creates a recursive payload and sends to service provider Target memory through jumbo payloads: service provider uses DOM to parse XML. DOM creates in memory representation of XML document, but when document is very large (for example, north of 1 Gb) service provider host may exhaust memory trying to build memory objects. XML Ping of death: attack service provider with numerous small files that clog the system. All of the above attacks exploit the loosely coupled nature of web services, where the service provider has little to no control over the service requester and any messages the service requester sends.

Nessus

  • NASL familyWindows
    NASL idADOBE_READER_APSB20-24.NASL
    descriptionThe version of Adobe Reader installed on the remote Windows host is a version prior or equal to 2015.006.30518, 2017.011.30166, or 2020.006.20042. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities. - Null Pointer potentially leading to Application denial- of-service (CVE-2020-9610) - Heap Overflow potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9612) - Race Condition potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9615) - Out-of-bounds write potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9594, CVE-2020-9597) - Security bypass potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9592, CVE-2020-9596, CVE-2020-9613, CVE-2020-9614) - Stack exhaustion potentially leading to Application denial-of-service (CVE-2020-9611) - Out-of-bounds read potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9599, CVE-2020-9600, CVE-2020-9601, CVE-2020-9602, CVE-2020-9603, CVE-2020-9608, CVE-2020-9609) - Buffer error potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9604, CVE-2020-9605) - Use-after-free potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9606, CVE-2020-9607) - Invalid memory access potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9593, CVE-2020-9595, CVE-2020-9598) Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-05-18
    modified2020-05-13
    plugin id136563
    published2020-05-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/136563
    titleAdobe Reader <= 2015.006.30518 / 2017.011.30166 / 2020.006.20042 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB20-24)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    
    include('compat.inc');
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(136563);
      script_version("1.5");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/07/27");
    
      script_cve_id(
        "CVE-2020-9592",
        "CVE-2020-9593",
        "CVE-2020-9594",
        "CVE-2020-9595",
        "CVE-2020-9596",
        "CVE-2020-9597",
        "CVE-2020-9598",
        "CVE-2020-9599",
        "CVE-2020-9600",
        "CVE-2020-9601",
        "CVE-2020-9602",
        "CVE-2020-9603",
        "CVE-2020-9604",
        "CVE-2020-9605",
        "CVE-2020-9606",
        "CVE-2020-9607",
        "CVE-2020-9608",
        "CVE-2020-9609",
        "CVE-2020-9610",
        "CVE-2020-9611",
        "CVE-2020-9612",
        "CVE-2020-9613",
        "CVE-2020-9614",
        "CVE-2020-9615"
      );
      script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2020-A-0211");
    
      script_name(english:"Adobe Reader <= 2015.006.30518 / 2017.011.30166 / 2020.006.20042 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB20-24)");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
    "The version of Adobe Reader installed on the remote Windows host is
    affected by multiple vulnerabilities.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
    "The version of Adobe Reader installed on the remote Windows host is a version prior or equal to 2015.006.30518,
    2017.011.30166, or 2020.006.20042. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities.
    
      - Null Pointer potentially leading to Application denial-
        of-service (CVE-2020-9610)
    
      - Heap Overflow potentially leading to Arbitrary Code
        Execution (CVE-2020-9612)
    
      - Race Condition potentially leading to Security feature
        bypass (CVE-2020-9615)
    
      - Out-of-bounds write potentially leading to Arbitrary
        Code Execution (CVE-2020-9594, CVE-2020-9597)
    
      - Security bypass potentially leading to Security feature
        bypass (CVE-2020-9592, CVE-2020-9596, CVE-2020-9613,
        CVE-2020-9614)
    
      - Stack exhaustion potentially leading to Application
        denial-of-service (CVE-2020-9611)
    
      - Out-of-bounds read potentially leading to Information
        disclosure (CVE-2020-9599, CVE-2020-9600, CVE-2020-9601,
        CVE-2020-9602, CVE-2020-9603, CVE-2020-9608,
        CVE-2020-9609)
    
      - Buffer error potentially leading to Arbitrary Code
        Execution (CVE-2020-9604, CVE-2020-9605)
    
      - Use-after-free potentially leading to Arbitrary Code
        Execution (CVE-2020-9606, CVE-2020-9607)
    
      - Invalid memory access potentially leading to Information
        disclosure (CVE-2020-9593, CVE-2020-9595, CVE-2020-9598)
    
    Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
    number.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb20-24.html");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
    "Upgrade to Adobe Reader version 2015.006.30523 or 2017.011.30171 or 2020.009.20063 or later.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
      script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2020-9614");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_malware", value:"true");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2020/05/12");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2020/05/12");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2020/05/13");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:adobe:acrobat_reader");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"I");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_family(english:"Windows");
    
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
    
      script_dependencies("adobe_reader_installed.nasl");
      script_require_keys("SMB/Registry/Enumerated", "installed_sw/Adobe Reader");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    include('vcf.inc');
    include('vcf_extras.inc');
    
    get_kb_item_or_exit('SMB/Registry/Enumerated');
    app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:'Adobe Reader', win_local:TRUE);
    
    # vcf::adobe_reader::check_version_and_report will
    # properly separate tracks when checking constraints.
    # x.y.30zzz = DC Classic
    # x.y.20zzz = DC Continuous
    constraints = [
      { 'min_version' : '15.6', 'max_version' : '15.006.30518', 'fixed_version' : '15.006.30523' },
      { 'min_version' : '17.8', 'max_version' : '17.011.30166', 'fixed_version' : '17.011.30171' },
      { 'min_version' : '15.7', 'max_version' : '20.006.20042', 'fixed_version' : '20.009.20063' }
    ];
    vcf::adobe_reader::check_version_and_report(app_info:app_info, constraints:constraints, severity:SECURITY_WARNING, max_segs:3);
    
  • NASL familyMacOS X Local Security Checks
    NASL idMACOS_ADOBE_READER_APSB20-24.NASL
    descriptionThe version of Adobe Reader installed on the remote macOS host is a version prior or equal to 2015.006.30518, 2017.011.30166, or 2020.006.20042. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities. - Null Pointer potentially leading to Application denial- of-service (CVE-2020-9610) - Heap Overflow potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9612) - Race Condition potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9615) - Out-of-bounds write potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9594, CVE-2020-9597) - Security bypass potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9592, CVE-2020-9596, CVE-2020-9613, CVE-2020-9614) - Stack exhaustion potentially leading to Application denial-of-service (CVE-2020-9611) - Out-of-bounds read potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9599, CVE-2020-9600, CVE-2020-9601, CVE-2020-9602, CVE-2020-9603, CVE-2020-9608, CVE-2020-9609) - Buffer error potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9604, CVE-2020-9605) - Use-after-free potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9606, CVE-2020-9607) - Invalid memory access potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9593, CVE-2020-9595, CVE-2020-9598) Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-05-18
    modified2020-05-13
    plugin id136561
    published2020-05-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/136561
    titleAdobe Reader <= 2015.006.30518 / 2017.011.30166 / 2020.006.20042 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB20-24) (macOS)
  • NASL familyWindows
    NASL idADOBE_ACROBAT_APSB20-24.NASL
    descriptionThe version of Adobe Acrobat installed on the remote Windows host is a version prior or equal to 2015.006.30518, 2017.011.30166, or 2020.006.20042. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities. - Null Pointer potentially leading to Application denial- of-service (CVE-2020-9610) - Heap Overflow potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9612) - Race Condition potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9615) - Out-of-bounds write potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9594, CVE-2020-9597) - Security bypass potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9592, CVE-2020-9596, CVE-2020-9613, CVE-2020-9614) - Stack exhaustion potentially leading to Application denial-of-service (CVE-2020-9611) - Out-of-bounds read potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9599, CVE-2020-9600, CVE-2020-9601, CVE-2020-9602, CVE-2020-9603, CVE-2020-9608, CVE-2020-9609) - Buffer error potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9604, CVE-2020-9605) - Use-after-free potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9606, CVE-2020-9607) - Invalid memory access potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9593, CVE-2020-9595, CVE-2020-9598) Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-05-18
    modified2020-05-13
    plugin id136562
    published2020-05-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/136562
    titleAdobe Acrobat <= 2015.006.30518 / 2017.011.30166 / 2020.006.20042 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB20-24)
  • NASL familyMacOS X Local Security Checks
    NASL idMACOS_ADOBE_ACROBAT_APSB20-24.NASL
    descriptionThe version of Adobe Acrobat installed on the remote macOS host is a version prior or equal to 2015.006.30518, 2017.011.30166, or 2020.006.20042. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities. - Null Pointer potentially leading to Application denial- of-service (CVE-2020-9610) - Heap Overflow potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9612) - Race Condition potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9615) - Out-of-bounds write potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9594, CVE-2020-9597) - Security bypass potentially leading to Security feature bypass (CVE-2020-9592, CVE-2020-9596, CVE-2020-9613, CVE-2020-9614) - Stack exhaustion potentially leading to Application denial-of-service (CVE-2020-9611) - Out-of-bounds read potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9599, CVE-2020-9600, CVE-2020-9601, CVE-2020-9602, CVE-2020-9603, CVE-2020-9608, CVE-2020-9609) - Buffer error potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9604, CVE-2020-9605) - Use-after-free potentially leading to Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2020-9606, CVE-2020-9607) - Invalid memory access potentially leading to Information disclosure (CVE-2020-9593, CVE-2020-9595, CVE-2020-9598) Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application
    last seen2020-05-18
    modified2020-05-13
    plugin id136560
    published2020-05-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/136560
    titleAdobe Acrobat <= 2015.006.30518 / 2017.011.30166 / 2020.006.20042 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB20-24) (macOS)