CVE-2018-12873 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
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read 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 falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically representing an improper validation of array index which allows attackers to access memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated arrays. The flaw occurs during the processing of PDF documents where the application fails to properly validate input data before accessing array elements, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted PDF files can trigger memory access violations. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to read data from memory locations that should not be accessible, potentially exposing sensitive information including system memory contents, user data, or application state information. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure as this type of vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, particularly when combined with other exploitation techniques. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for execution through malicious documents and T1005 for data from local system. The out-of-bounds read condition specifically relates to T1557.001 for credential access through memory dumps. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF file, making it a prime candidate for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. Attackers can craft PDF documents that contain malformed data structures designed to trigger this memory access violation, potentially allowing them to extract information from the application's memory space. The impact of successful exploitation includes unauthorized access to sensitive data, potential privilege escalation, and the ability to gather intelligence about the target system. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader should immediately apply patches from Adobe's security advisory to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing strict document validation, deploying application whitelisting policies, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted PDF files. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious PDF file handling activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for PDF processing to isolate potentially malicious documents from the primary system environment.