CVE-2018-15992 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2019.008.20080 and earlier, 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier version, 2017.011.30105 and earlier version, 2015.006.30457 and earlier, and 2015.006.30456 and earlier have an use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15992 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the application's handling of objects in memory, creating a scenario where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. The flaw manifests in versions including but not limited to 2019.008.20081, 2017.011.30106, 2015.006.30457, and their respective earlier iterations, making it a widespread issue across several software releases. The root cause aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software development, where memory is accessed after it has been freed by the program. This particular vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption flaws that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized control over affected systems.
The exploitation of this use after free vulnerability can result in arbitrary code execution, representing one of the most severe consequences for end users and organizations. When an attacker successfully triggers this flaw, they can potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, typically running with the same permissions as the user who opened the malicious document. This arbitrary code execution capability allows attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including installing malware, modifying system files, accessing sensitive data, or establishing persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because Adobe Acrobat and Reader are widely deployed across enterprise environments and individual workstations, making the attack surface extensive and the potential damage significant.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of CVE-2018-15992 creates substantial risks for organizations relying on Adobe's PDF viewing software. The vulnerability can be triggered through malicious PDF files delivered via email, web downloads, or other attack vectors, requiring minimal user interaction beyond opening the compromised document. This makes it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks where adversaries craft specific PDF files designed to exploit the memory management flaw. The attack chain typically involves preparing a malicious PDF document that, when opened by an unpatched version of Acrobat or Reader, triggers the use after free condition and subsequently executes attacker-controlled code. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1204.002, which covers legitimate user execution through spearphishing attachments, making the vulnerability particularly effective in social engineering campaigns.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through patch management processes, ensuring all affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader are updated to the latest secure releases. Adobe has released security patches addressing this specific flaw, and organizations must implement these updates across their enterprise environments without delay. Additional mitigations include implementing strict email filtering and sandboxing mechanisms for PDF files, disabling automatic PDF viewing in web browsers, and conducting regular security awareness training for users to recognize potentially malicious PDF attachments. The vulnerability's classification as a use after free issue also emphasizes the importance of robust memory management practices in software development and the necessity of thorough security testing, particularly for applications handling untrusted input data such as PDF documents. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures for handling such security events.