CVE-2018-15979 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.008.20080 and earlier, 2017.011.30105 and earlier, and 2015.006.30456 and earlier have a ntlm sso hash theft vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2023
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical ntlm sso hash theft vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.008.20080 and earlier, 2017.011.30105 and earlier, and 2015.006.30456 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the applications' handling of ntlm single sign-on authentication mechanisms and represents a significant security flaw that can be exploited to extract authentication credentials from target systems. The vulnerability stems from improper validation and processing of ntlm authentication tokens within the software's network communication stack, allowing malicious actors to intercept and harvest nt credentials during legitimate authentication processes. This type of vulnerability is classified as a credential exposure issue that aligns with cwe-255 credentials management flaws and can be categorized under attack technique t1075 credential access through the exploitation of authentication protocol weaknesses. The technical implementation flaw occurs when the application processes ntlm authentication requests without sufficient cryptographic validation, creating opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks and credential theft scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential lateral movement within network environments and unauthorized access to protected resources. When exploited successfully, attackers can obtain nt hash values that can be used for additional authentication attempts, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges or move laterally within compromised networks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the authentication layer where legitimate user credentials are processed, making detection more challenging and the attack surface broader. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios, especially in enterprise environments where nt authentication is prevalent. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it attractive to both automated attack tools and determined adversaries. This weakness affects the integrity of the authentication framework and undermines trust in the application's security posture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected versions to address the root cause of the nt hash theft vulnerability, as well as network-level controls to monitor and restrict nt authentication traffic. The recommended approach involves deploying security updates from adobe to remediate the specific code paths that handle nt authentication, while also implementing network segmentation to limit the scope of potential credential theft. Additional defensive measures include disabling nt authentication where possible, implementing strong network monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify any remaining vulnerabilities in authentication infrastructure. Security teams should also consider deploying credential monitoring solutions that can detect unusual authentication behavior and alert on potential credential theft attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the risks associated with legacy authentication protocols that may not meet current security standards. The attack surface for this vulnerability is significant within enterprise environments where adobe reader and acrobat are widely deployed, making comprehensive remediation essential for maintaining overall security posture.