CVE-2018-16016 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 write 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-2018-16016 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This vulnerability manifests in the processing of specific file formats where the application fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during memory operations. The flaw exists within the software's handling of malformed input data, particularly when parsing documents that contain crafted malicious content designed to trigger the vulnerability. 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 this issue has persisted across multiple software iterations and represents a significant security gap in Adobe's document processing libraries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-787 category of out-of-bounds write conditions, where an application writes data beyond the boundaries of a allocated buffer. This type of flaw typically occurs when input validation is insufficient and the application does not properly check array indices or memory allocation limits before performing write operations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially designed PDF files or other document formats that, when opened by the vulnerable Adobe software, trigger the buffer overflow condition. The exploitation mechanism leverages the predictable nature of memory corruption to overwrite critical program data or executable code, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2018-16016 presents a severe threat to enterprise and individual security postures. The vulnerability enables remote code execution capabilities, meaning attackers can potentially compromise systems without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond opening a malicious document. This makes the flaw particularly dangerous in targeted attacks where adversaries can deliver malicious payloads through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that organizations with legacy Adobe installations face significant risk exposure, as the affected software remains in use across numerous enterprise environments. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access and execute malicious code.
Security mitigations for CVE-2018-16016 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that address this vulnerability, as Adobe released specific patches to resolve the out-of-bounds write condition. Additionally, implementing defensive measures such as sandboxing document processing applications, restricting user permissions when opening documents, and employing email filtering solutions can help reduce the attack surface. Network-based detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious document file types and potentially malicious content patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-787 emphasizes the importance of robust input validation and proper memory management practices in software development, making it crucial for organizations to conduct thorough security assessments of their document processing workflows and implement layered security controls to protect against similar vulnerabilities.