CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2013-2729Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

Adobe Reader and Acrobat Arbitrary Integer Overflow

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2013-2729 is a critical-severity integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability in Acrobat from Adobe, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9.5.5, 10.1.7, 11.0.03 as the first without the flaw, so updating Acrobat to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on March 28, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Update Acrobat to 9.5.5 or 10.1.7 or 11.0.03, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Acrobat Reader to 9.5.5 or 10.1.7 or 11.0.03, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
  4. Read the advisory on adobe.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
AdobeAcrobat9.0 up to, but not including, 9.5.5; 10.0 up to, but not including, 10.1.7; 11.0 up to, but not including, 11.0.039.5.5, 10.1.7, 11.0.03
AdobeAcrobat Reader9.0 up to, but not including, 9.5.5; 10.0 up to, but not including, 10.1.7; 11.0 up to, but not including, 11.0.039.5.5, 10.1.7, 11.0.03
SUSELinux Enterprise Desktop10; 11Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Desktop6.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux EUS5.9; 6.4Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server6.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server AUS5.9; 6.4Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Workstation6.0Not stated

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 3.18.8HighCISA (ADP)
CVSS 2.010.0HighNVD

Official description

Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-2727.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Integer Overflow or Wraparound

The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Ensure that all protocols are strictly defined, such that all out-of-bounds behavior can be identified simply, and require strict conformance to the protocol.
  • Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. If possible, choose a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Use libraries or frameworks that make it easier to handle numbers without unexpected consequences. Examples include safe integer handling packages such as SafeInt (C++) or IntegerLib (C or C++).

More Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerabilities (CWE-190)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  4. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other references

Other vulnerabilities in Acrobat

All Acrobat vulnerabilities

Recent Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerabilities

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