CVE-2018-16014 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 a use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16014 represents a critical use after free flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use after free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. The affected versions span across several major releases including 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier, and 2015.006.30457 and earlier, indicating a long-standing issue that persisted across multiple software generations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. When processing certain malformed PDF files, the software fails to properly validate memory references after objects have been freed from memory, allowing attackers to manipulate the freed memory locations. This creates a scenario where an attacker can overwrite critical memory areas with malicious code, effectively enabling arbitrary code execution on the target system. The vulnerability operates at the application level and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2018-16014 could result in complete system compromise, as attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the affected software. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious payloads through the compromised application. The attack surface is broad since PDF files are commonly shared in business environments, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. Organizations using older versions of Adobe software are at significant risk, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which contain fixes for the use after free condition. Additionally, implementing strict PDF file validation policies, deploying sandboxing solutions for PDF processing, and educating users about avoiding suspicious PDF attachments can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can also help detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end users. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to protect against known exploits.