CVE-2018-12866 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 an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12866 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This issue stems from improper input validation within the document processing engine that handles pdf files, specifically when parsing certain embedded objects or streams. The flaw exists in the way the affected applications process structured data within pdf documents, particularly in scenarios involving malformed or specially crafted input sequences that exceed expected buffer boundaries. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that fail to validate the size or content of data structures before accessing memory locations. The vulnerability affects Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions up to 2018.011.20063, 2017.011.30102, and 2015.006.30452, indicating a long-standing issue that persisted across multiple release cycles. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of "Improper Validation of Array Index" and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where memory access occurs beyond the allocated bounds. The out-of-bounds read condition creates an opportunity for information disclosure as the application may inadvertently expose sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, potentially including stack contents, heap data, or other process memory segments that could contain credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information. The exploitation of this vulnerability typically occurs when a malicious user crafts a specially formatted pdf document designed to trigger the flawed parsing logic, causing the application to read memory beyond intended boundaries. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as it represents a common attack vector through malicious document delivery. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. When exploited, the vulnerability may allow attackers to gather information about the target system's memory layout, which can be instrumental in developing more advanced exploitation techniques. The exposure of memory contents could reveal process-specific information, including pointers to important system resources or data structures that might aid in privilege escalation or further compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability's presence in widely used pdf reading software creates a significant risk across enterprise environments where users frequently open pdf documents from untrusted sources, making it a prime target for social engineering campaigns. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face potential data breaches, intellectual property theft, or system compromise if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of all affected versions with the latest security updates provided by Adobe, as well as implementing network-based controls such as pdf file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening pdf files from untrusted sources remains crucial, as this vulnerability represents a common attack surface for initial compromise in targeted campaigns. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenge of maintaining security in complex software applications where legacy code and extensive feature sets create numerous potential attack vectors that require continuous monitoring and updating.