CVE-2018-12832 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier have a heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical heap overflow vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and represents a classic buffer overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The flaw manifests when the software processes specially crafted PDF documents that contain oversized or malformed data structures, particularly within the document parsing routines that manage memory allocation for various PDF objects and metadata. The heap overflow occurs in the memory management subsystem where the application fails to validate the size of incoming data before attempting to copy it into fixed-size buffers allocated on the heap. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a severe memory safety issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as successful exploitation enables remote code execution capabilities, allowing attackers to gain full control over affected systems. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger the heap overflow condition and subsequently execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it leverages user interaction with malicious documents to establish execution footholds. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread deployment of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments and individual workstations, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking persistent access to networks. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations as it requires no special privileges to exploit and can be delivered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. Organizations should prioritize patching efforts to address this vulnerability, as the window for exploitation remains open for all affected versions. The memory corruption resulting from heap overflow conditions can lead to unpredictable application behavior, system crashes, or more dangerously, provide attackers with opportunities to inject and execute malicious code in the context of the targeted user's session. Given the nature of PDF processing and the complex parsing requirements of the Adobe ecosystem, this vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with processing untrusted binary data formats and underscores the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in commercial software applications. The vulnerability also highlights the challenges of maintaining security in legacy software environments where patch deployment may be delayed or restricted due to compatibility concerns with existing workflows and business applications.