CVE-2018-12822 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions versions 4.5.8 and below have an use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2020
Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.8 and earlier contains a critical use after free vulnerability that presents significant security risks to users and organizations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The flaw occurs when the application improperly handles memory management during the processing of digital content, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the freed memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory deallocation practices within the Adobe Digital Editions application. When processing certain digital publications or content files, the software allocates memory for objects and subsequently frees them, but fails to properly invalidate pointers or references to those memory regions. Attackers can manipulate the application's processing flow to cause the freed memory to be reallocated and populated with malicious data, allowing for arbitrary code execution when the application attempts to access the freed memory location. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal application usage scenarios involving document processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user systems to potentially compromise entire organizational environments. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the Adobe Digital Editions process, which typically runs with user-level permissions. However, in scenarios where the application is used with elevated privileges or in enterprise environments, the attack surface expands significantly. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious digital publications, specially crafted e-books, or compromised content distribution channels that leverage the application's legitimate processing functions.
Organizations and users should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.9 or later, which contains patches addressing this specific use after free vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted digital content and monitor for suspicious application behavior. Network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, users should avoid processing untrusted digital content and maintain regular updates of all Adobe software components to ensure protection against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation typically involves the execution of malicious code through compromised application processes, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations.