CVE-2018-12879 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.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across multiple versions including 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when processing specially crafted pdf files. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software applications. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that could enable attackers to extract sensitive information from memory locations that should not be accessible to the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's handling of malformed pdf objects during the parsing process. When Adobe Acrobat or Reader encounters a pdf file containing maliciously constructed data structures, the application fails to properly validate array bounds or memory access patterns before reading from memory locations. This improper validation allows an attacker to craft pdf documents that trigger memory access violations, potentially leading to information disclosure. The out-of-bounds read occurs during the processing of pdf content where the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive data stored in memory, including encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential information that might be present in the application's memory space. This information disclosure could be leveraged to compromise the security of the system or facilitate further exploitation. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's software, indicating a widespread issue that would require patching across various product lines and deployment scenarios.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through the application of Adobe's security patches. The recommended mitigation strategy includes updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader where the vulnerability has been addressed. Additionally, implementing pdf file scanning and validation mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider restricting pdf file handling in high-security environments until patches are applied. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in preventing information disclosure attacks that could compromise system security. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the information disclosure tactic where adversaries attempt to access sensitive data through software flaws in applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.