CVE-2018-12775 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20058 and earlier, 2017.011.30099 and earlier, and 2015.006.30448 and earlier have an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2023
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20058 and earlier, 2017.011.30099 and earlier, and 2015.006.30448 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the software's document processing engine, specifically when handling malformed PDF files. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds memory read operation that occurs during the parsing of certain PDF objects, particularly those related to embedded fonts and graphics rendering. When a maliciously crafted PDF file is opened, the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-125 Out-of-Bounds Read category, which represents one of the most common and dangerous classes of memory safety errors in software applications. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate bounds checking during array or buffer operations, allowing attackers to access memory that was not intended for reading. The exploitation of this flaw can result in information disclosure attacks where attackers may extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or other confidential data that happens to reside in the memory locations adjacent to the vulnerable buffer. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because PDF files are commonly shared across networks and can be easily delivered via email attachments or web downloads.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing and viewing. The attack surface is broad as PDF files are ubiquitous in business environments, making exploitation relatively easy for threat actors. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or the compromise of sensitive corporate information. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework would fall under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers may use the information disclosure to gain further system access or escalate privileges. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe products face potential exposure to advanced persistent threats that could leverage this vulnerability as an initial access vector or for information gathering purposes.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader where the vulnerability has been patched. The recommended approach involves deploying automatic update mechanisms or manual patching procedures to ensure all endpoints are protected. Additionally, organizations should implement PDF file filtering and sandboxing solutions to prevent potentially malicious documents from being opened in the first place. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and email filtering systems can also help reduce the risk of exploitation by blocking suspicious PDF attachments. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing extended detection and response capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this specific vulnerability to ensure comprehensive protection across all affected systems.