CVE-2018-16002 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16002 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across multiple version ranges including 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier, and 2015.006.30457 and earlier versions. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions where an application attempts to access memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer. The flaw manifests when the affected software processes malformed or specially crafted PDF files that trigger improper memory access patterns during document parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the parsing of PDF content where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. When a maliciously constructed PDF file is opened, the software's PDF parser attempts to read data from memory locations that are outside the intended buffer limits, potentially causing the application to access sensitive memory regions containing previously allocated data, configuration information, or even stack contents. This out-of-bounds memory access can result in information disclosure as the application may inadvertently expose memory contents that were not intended for public access, potentially including credentials, encryption keys, or other sensitive data stored in adjacent memory locations.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing. The information disclosure threat can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, or personal information stored within memory segments that become accessible through the out-of-bounds read. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns distributing malicious PDF documents via email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data leakage as it can potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, allowing adversaries to gather intelligence about system configurations, memory layouts, or application states that could aid in subsequent exploitation attempts. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which covers data from local system, and T1059 which involves command and scripting interpreter.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Adobe, which address the root cause by implementing proper input validation and boundary checking in the PDF parsing routines. Network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be enhanced to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious PDF files to end users, while endpoint protection measures should include real-time scanning capabilities for PDF documents. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of unauthorized PDF processing applications can help reduce the attack surface. System administrators should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to make exploitation attempts more difficult. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software versions within the organization's infrastructure, as the vulnerability affects multiple product lines and version ranges that may still be in use across different departments or legacy systems.