CVE-2018-15953 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 product versions including 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the software's handling of malformed PDF files, specifically when processing certain embedded objects or streams. The flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious PDF documents that trigger memory access violations when the vulnerable software attempts to read data beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This particular vulnerability maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption. The technical execution involves the application's parser encountering malformed data structures that cause it to access memory locations outside the intended buffer limits, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability could enable attackers to extract confidential data from the application's memory space, including potentially sensitive user information, system details, or other confidential data stored in memory. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it represents a fundamental memory safety issue that could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve more severe outcomes. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns where users open maliciously crafted PDF files, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where document sharing is common. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves gaining access to information through exploitation of software vulnerabilities in document processing applications. The attack surface is broad given Adobe Reader's widespread deployment across organizations and individual users, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to harvest sensitive data from compromised systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability exists in multiple major release lines spanning several years of software development. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive vulnerability assessment of all deployed Adobe products, along with implementation of network-based controls such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing user awareness training to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability through malicious document delivery methods.