CVE-2018-16009 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 integer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The integer overflow vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-16009 affects multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2019.008.20081, 2017.011.30106, 2015.006.30457, and their respective earlier releases. This vulnerability resides within the software's handling of integer values during processing of specific file formats, creating a condition where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer data type. The flaw manifests when the application processes malformed or specially crafted input data that triggers unexpected behavior in the integer calculation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and overflow checking within the application's parsing routines. When processing certain PDF files or document elements, the software performs arithmetic operations on integer variables without proper bounds checking. This allows an attacker to craft malicious documents that cause integer overflow conditions, potentially resulting in memory corruption or unexpected program behavior. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which represents a well-documented class of flaws where arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type. The specific nature of the vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate integer values in ways that could lead to memory layout corruption or control flow manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of this integer overflow could potentially lead to information disclosure, where sensitive data from the application's memory space might be exposed to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability presents a significant risk in environments where Adobe Acrobat and Reader are used to process untrusted documents, particularly in enterprise settings where users may encounter malicious PDF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information, potentially including user credentials, system details, or proprietary data stored in memory. The exploitation chain typically involves crafting a malicious PDF file that, when opened by the vulnerable application, triggers the integer overflow condition and subsequently leads to information disclosure.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain fixes for this integer overflow vulnerability, as these updates typically include enhanced input validation and proper integer bounds checking. Additionally, implementing defensive measures such as sandboxing the PDF processing environment, restricting user permissions when opening documents, and employing content filtering solutions can help reduce the attack surface. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and email security gateways can also provide additional layers of defense by scanning and blocking potentially malicious PDF files before they reach end-user systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer handling in security-critical applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for exploitation through malicious document formats, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and memory safety practices in software development.