CVE-2018-12796 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
This vulnerability resides in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software versions that are particularly susceptible to use-after-free exploits. The flaw manifests in the handling of memory objects where a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different release cycles, specifically targeting the 2018, 2017, and 2015 series of Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the category of memory corruption issues that are commonly exploited in cyber attacks. When a program attempts to access memory that has been deallocated, it can result in unpredictable behavior that attackers can manipulate to execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple software instability, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve privilege escalation within the context of the current user. This means that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain the same access rights and permissions as the user running the vulnerable software. The use-after-free condition creates a window of opportunity where memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical program structures or inject malicious code into the running process. Such exploitation typically requires the user to open a maliciously crafted PDF file, which triggers the vulnerable code path and allows the attacker to execute code with the privileges of the current user. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted PDF content.
Security researchers categorize this vulnerability under CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory condition in software systems. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for PowerShell and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how memory management flaws in widely used software can create persistent security risks. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant exposure since these applications are commonly used across enterprise environments and are frequently opened by users without security awareness. The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing robust security controls to prevent unauthorized code execution.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations. Adobe has released security updates addressing this specific use-after-free issue, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting controls can help prevent execution of untrusted PDF files, while network-based security measures such as sandboxing PDF viewers can provide additional layers of protection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated Adobe software versions to identify potential exposure to similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the critical need for continuous security monitoring and proactive patch management to protect against known exploits that target memory management flaws in widely deployed applications.