CVE-2018-15943 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 • 08/06/2024
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-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that occur when a program attempts to access memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer. The flaw manifests during the processing of malformed PDF files, where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before accessing memory locations. When exploited, this vulnerability allows an attacker to read data from memory locations that should not be accessible, potentially exposing sensitive information including credentials, system details, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory segments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, this vulnerability could enable adversaries to gather intelligence about the target system through information gathering techniques, while the out-of-bounds read condition aligns with T1203 which covers process injection and memory manipulation methods. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through user interaction with malicious PDF files, making it suitable for phishing campaigns or social engineering attacks where victims might unknowingly open compromised documents. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from memory, including encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential data that might be stored in adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful crafting of a malicious PDF file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition when the vulnerable application attempts to parse specific elements within the document structure. This typically involves manipulating array indices or buffer size parameters in PDF objects to cause the application to access memory beyond the intended boundaries. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges indicates a widespread issue that affects both current and legacy installations, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with diverse software environments. Security researchers have identified that the flaw occurs in the PDF parsing libraries used by Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which are also shared across multiple Adobe products, potentially creating a broader attack surface. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest versions, implementing strict PDF file validation policies, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability involves updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, with the specific versions containing fixes for this issue typically released as part of Adobe's regular security bulletins. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing PDF processing, restricting user access to potentially malicious files, and monitoring for suspicious PDF file activity. The vulnerability's classification as an out-of-bounds read also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in software development, aligning with security standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines that emphasize the need for robust buffer overflow protections and memory management practices. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping software updated and maintaining comprehensive vulnerability management programs to protect against such memory safety issues that can have far-reaching consequences.