CVE-2018-16003 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-2018-16003 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability manifests in the handling of memory management operations within the affected applications, specifically in how they process certain objects in memory after their initial allocation has been freed. The flaw exists across various product versions including 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier, and 2015.006.30457 and earlier releases, indicating a persistent issue that has affected the software ecosystem over multiple years. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use after free conditions where program code continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a dangerous state that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious PDF file that triggers the flawed memory management behavior during document processing. When the vulnerable application processes such a file, it may attempt to access memory locations that have already been deallocated, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate the program flow or inject malicious code. This use after free condition can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the affected software, creating a significant security risk that extends beyond simple document processing to potentially compromise entire systems. The exploitation mechanism aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond individual user systems as Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed across enterprise environments, making this a particularly dangerous flaw for organizations. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access to systems, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware components. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests that organizations maintaining older software releases are particularly at risk, as these versions likely lack the memory management fixes that would prevent the exploitation scenario. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability when assessing attack surface areas, particularly in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, as the attack vector requires only a single malicious document to potentially compromise systems.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation efforts by updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain the patched memory management routines. The vulnerability's classification as a use after free flaw makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through social engineering campaigns targeting document attachment delivery methods. System administrators should implement additional controls such as PDF sandboxing features, restricted file type handling, and network-based security controls to limit potential exploitation opportunities. Regular vulnerability assessments should include verification of Adobe software versions to ensure that all systems are running patched releases. The remediation approach should also consider the broader security posture, as this vulnerability represents a fundamental memory safety issue that could potentially be exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack scenarios.