CVE-2018-15997 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 out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2019.008.20081, 2017.011.30106, 2015.006.30457, and their respective earlier releases. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when processing specially crafted PDF files, representing a critical security weakness that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read flaws that allow attackers to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to extract confidential data from the application's memory space, potentially including user credentials, system information, or other sensitive content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the affected Adobe applications attempt to parse malformed PDF documents that contain maliciously constructed data structures. During the parsing process, the software fails to properly validate array or buffer boundaries, allowing an attacker to craft PDF files that trigger memory access violations. When the application reads beyond the allocated memory boundaries, it may inadvertently expose sensitive data that was previously stored in those memory locations. This information disclosure can include encryption keys, user session data, or other confidential information that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through simple document opening, requiring no additional user interaction beyond viewing the malicious file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to authentication tokens, system configuration details, or other sensitive information that could be used to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks against other systems. The attack surface is broad since PDF files are commonly shared through email, file transfers, and web downloads, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users regularly open PDF documents from external sources. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under initial access techniques, specifically leveraging malicious documents as a means of gaining unauthorized system access. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized information access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of patches released by Adobe, as well as implementing additional security controls to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should ensure that all users have updated to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, specifically versions that address the out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Network-based security controls such as email filtering and web proxy configurations can help prevent users from accessing malicious PDF files through email attachments or web downloads. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized software can limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability represents a clear indication that proper input validation and memory management practices are essential for maintaining software security, and organizations should review their code review processes and security testing procedures to prevent similar issues in other applications.