Adobe Acrobat Reader Vulnerable to Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Vulnerability

CVE-2024-39420

What is CVE-2024-39420?

CVE-2024-39420 is a vulnerability found in multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, a widely used application for viewing, creating, and managing PDF documents. This specific vulnerability is characterized as a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition, which allows an attacker to exploit timing discrepancies in how resources are checked and utilized within the application. If successfully exploited, this could lead to arbitrary code execution, where an attacker gains unauthorized control over affected systems. The implications for organizations using Adobe Acrobat Reader can be severe, potentially resulting in system breaches, data loss, or unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details

The vulnerability affects several versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, including versions 20.005.30636, 24.002.21005, 24.001.30159, 20.005.30655, 24.002.20965, 24.002.20964, 24.001.30123, and 24.003.20054, and earlier. It arises from a race condition during the execution of processes where the state of a resource can be manipulated after a condition is checked but before the resource is utilized. For exploitation to occur, user interaction is required, meaning that a victim needs to open a specially crafted malicious file that triggers the vulnerability.

Potential impact of CVE-2024-39420

1. Arbitrary Code Execution: The most critical impact of CVE-2024-39420 is the potential for arbitrary code execution. An attacker can execute malicious code on the affected system after successfully exploiting the vulnerability, leading to full control and compromise of the system.

2. Data Breaches: Successful exploitation may allow unauthorized access to sensitive information within the user's documents or system, resulting in significant data breaches that can affect privacy and compliance with regulations.

3. Disruption of Services: Organizations relying on Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF management may face disruptions in their operations due to compromised systems, leading to downtime and potential financial losses as they respond to the breach and recover from its effects.

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