CVE-2018-12855 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 buffer errors 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 buffer overflow vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation during the processing of malformed input files, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to write data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers, potentially allowing malicious actors to overwrite critical program memory locations and redirect execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects widely deployed software across multiple versions including 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier releases, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across several software generations. The buffer overflow occurs during document parsing operations where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to craft specially malformed documents that trigger the vulnerability when opened by the affected software. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient validation of buffer sizes leads to memory corruption. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with potential persistence mechanisms and privilege escalation capabilities, particularly when exploited in targeted attacks against enterprise environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns that deliver malicious PDF files, exploiting the widespread use of Adobe Reader in corporate and personal environments. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of command and scripting interpreter for execution, as successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary command execution on compromised systems. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk due to the broad attack surface provided by PDF processing functionality, which is commonly used for document sharing across networked environments. The vulnerability represents a classic example of a memory safety issue that can be exploited through crafted input files, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. The buffer overflow vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to gain control over system execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Remediation requires immediate patching of affected software versions, with administrators prioritizing updates to the latest available releases that contain memory safety improvements and enhanced input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software deployments and implementing proper input sanitization practices to prevent buffer overflow exploits from succeeding in real-world environments.