CVE-2018-16012 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 • 08/04/2024
This vulnerability resides within Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across multiple version ranges, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2019.008.20081, 2017.011.30106, 2015.006.30457, and their respective earlier iterations. 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 adversaries to extract sensitive information from system memory. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the software's PDF parsing routines, where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits when handling malformed input data.
The technical implementation of this out-of-bounds read vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the memory access patterns of the affected applications, potentially enabling information disclosure attacks that could expose sensitive data including but not limited to user credentials, system memory contents, or other confidential information stored in the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which is classified as a weakness that can lead to memory corruption and unauthorized data access. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited remotely through malicious PDF files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or other attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with untrusted PDF content.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, where attackers could potentially leverage such memory access flaws to extract system information or escalate privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or lateral movement within compromised networks. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader should prioritize immediate patching, as the vulnerability's widespread presence across multiple software versions and release cycles creates extensive attack surface exposure. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive patch management procedures, user education about avoiding untrusted PDF content, and network-based security controls such as PDF content filtering to prevent exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing robust security practices for document processing applications. Given the nature of PDF files as common attack vectors in enterprise environments, this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in document parsing libraries can result in significant security risks. Security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious PDF-related activities and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities in widely used productivity software. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar flaws in other document processing applications that may be similarly exposed to out-of-bounds read conditions.