CVE-2018-12762 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 an Out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically representing an out-of-bounds read condition where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. The flaw occurs when processing maliciously crafted PDF files that contain malformed data structures, particularly within the document parsing logic that handles various object types and their associated metadata. When the vulnerable software attempts to read data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, it may access adjacent memory regions containing sensitive information such as stack contents, heap data, or other process memory that could reveal confidential data including encryption keys, user credentials, or system information. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting languages and T1566 for initial access via malicious documents, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to open a specially crafted malicious PDF file, which triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during document parsing. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability can potentially expose sensitive data that may be used for further exploitation or reconnaissance activities. The impact extends beyond simple information leakage as the disclosed memory contents could contain cryptographic material or other sensitive data that could compromise system security. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates to mitigate this vulnerability, as the attack surface is broad due to the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across enterprise environments. Additionally, implementing email filtering solutions and endpoint protection measures that can detect and block malicious PDF files can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Network administrators should also consider monitoring for suspicious PDF file transfers and implementing strict access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, particularly for applications that process untrusted data from external sources.