Adobe Reader ARMSvc Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

July 14th, 2015
ZDI-15-314 ZDI-CAN-2907

CVE ID

CVE-2015-5090

CVSS Score

6.9 AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected Vendors

Adobe

Affected Products

Reader

Vulnerability Details


This vulnerability allows local attackers to elevate privileges on vulnerable installations of Adobe Reader. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the ARMSvc service. An attacker can force the service to overwrite the Adobe updater with any file signed by Adobe. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of SYSTEM.

Additional Details

Adobe has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/reader/apsb15-15.html

Disclosure Timeline

  • 2015-04-28 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2015-07-14 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

AbdulAziz Hariri and Jasiel Spelman - HP Zero Day Initiative

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