CVE-2018-12783 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
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical use-after-free vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the software's handling of certain objects, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory pointers after objects have been freed. The flaw exists in the way the applications process specific file formats, particularly those involving embedded objects or complex data structures that require careful memory allocation and deallocation. When a maliciously crafted document is opened, the application's memory management routines may attempt to access memory locations that have already been released, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition where a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed. This particular flaw operates within the context of Adobe's document processing engine, where memory is allocated for various objects during document parsing and rendering. When the application encounters malformed input data, the memory management system fails to properly track object lifecycles, allowing freed memory to be reallocated and subsequently accessed by malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal document opening procedures, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as it represents a significant threat vector for targeted attacks and supply chain compromises. Attackers can craft specially designed PDF documents that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, will trigger the use-after-free condition. This allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different release cycles, indicating a persistent issue in Adobe's memory management implementation that spans several years of development. Security researchers have noted that this flaw is particularly concerning due to the widespread deployment of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for nation-state actors and cybercriminal organizations seeking persistent access to sensitive networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory software updates to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain patches for this vulnerability. System administrators should consider deploying Adobe's recommended security configurations and disabling potentially dangerous features such as JavaScript execution in PDF documents when not required for business operations. Network-based defenses should include PDF file inspection and filtering to identify potentially malicious documents before they reach end users. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security awareness training for users, as social engineering campaigns often leverage these types of vulnerabilities through phishing emails containing malicious attachments. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability may trigger requirements under frameworks such as nist 800-53 and iso 27001, particularly regarding access control and vulnerability management. Additionally, organizations should monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability, as it has been actively exploited in the wild. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for defensive security operations.