CVE-2017-3018 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, 15.023.20070 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the renderer functionality. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2020
Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, and 15.023.20070 and earlier. This vulnerability exists within the renderer functionality of the application, which processes and displays PDF documents. The flaw manifests as an exploitable memory corruption issue that occurs when the application handles specially crafted PDF files, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to systems through targeted attacks against the PDF rendering engine.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security flaws classified under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of PDF content, where insufficient input validation and memory management controls allow malicious data to overwrite memory locations beyond intended boundaries. This type of vulnerability typically arises when applications fail to properly validate buffer sizes or memory allocation limits during document processing, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit these weaknesses. The renderer component's handling of complex PDF structures provides multiple attack vectors for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3018 extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to gain full control over affected systems. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious PDF files delivered via email, web downloads, or compromised websites. Once successfully exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Acrobat Reader, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's widespread presence across multiple version ranges increases its attack surface significantly, as organizations using any of the affected versions remain at risk.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including prompt patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat Reader installations to versions that address this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as PDF file scanning, restricted browsing environments, and application whitelisting policies to limit exposure. Network-based protections should include intrusion detection systems configured to monitor for known exploit signatures and suspicious PDF-related network traffic patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which describes exploitation for execution through malicious document files, making it a critical target for defensive security operations and incident response procedures.