CVE-2018-15935 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 write vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability resides in the handling of specific file formats and can be triggered through maliciously crafted documents. The flaw allows an attacker to write data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that has been classified under CWE-787. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes certain elements within PDF files, particularly those involving complex object structures or embedded content that requires extensive memory allocation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by preparing specially crafted PDF documents that, when opened by an affected version of Acrobat or Reader, trigger the out-of-bounds write condition. The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking during memory operations, where the application fails to validate the size or range of data being written to memory locations. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to gain full control over the affected system. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can be leveraged for complete system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects a wide range of users since Adobe Acrobat and Reader remain widely deployed across organizations for document processing and viewing. The exploitation typically occurs through social engineering tactics where users are tricked into opening malicious documents, often delivered via email attachments or compromised websites. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1204.002 for legitimate user execution, where adversaries rely on users opening malicious files. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams including 2018, 2017, and 2015 releases indicates a persistent flaw in Adobe's codebase that required remediation across several major versions. Organizations running these affected versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently handle untrusted documents or where privilege separation is minimal. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly attractive to attackers as it can be reliably exploited to achieve code execution without requiring user interaction beyond document opening. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation is relatively straightforward, requiring only basic knowledge of memory corruption techniques and PDF structure manipulation. The out-of-bounds write condition creates a predictable memory layout that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program structures or function pointers, enabling successful arbitrary code execution. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of all affected versions, implementation of strict document handling policies, and deployment of sandboxing technologies to contain potential exploitation attempts. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and email filtering systems can help reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation by blocking known malicious PDF content. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening documents from trusted sources and maintaining current software versions to protect against known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in preventing memory safety issues that can lead to complete system compromise.