CVE-2018-12756 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier versions have a Use-after-free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12756 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory contents and execute arbitrary code. The affected versions include Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier, indicating a widespread issue across several major software releases. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions that can lead to memory corruption and potential privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PDF document that triggers the flawed memory management behavior during document processing. When the vulnerable software parses such a document, it may free memory associated with certain objects while still maintaining references to them, allowing an attacker to overwrite freed memory with malicious data. This memory corruption can then be leveraged to redirect program execution flow and ultimately achieve arbitrary code execution within the security context of the currently logged-in user. The attack vector is particularly concerning because PDF files are commonly encountered in email attachments and web downloads, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-12756 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise when the affected software runs with elevated privileges. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands through the compromised application. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly deployed for document viewing, creating potential attack surfaces across multiple organizational systems. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, privilege escalation, and persistent malware installation, particularly when users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as Adobe released security updates addressing this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing strict email filtering and web content controls to prevent users from inadvertently opening malicious PDF files. Security teams should also consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of unauthorized software and monitor for suspicious PDF processing activities. Additionally, regular security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering tactics that rely on users opening malicious attachments. Network segmentation and endpoint detection and response solutions can provide additional layers of defense against potential exploitation attempts.