CVE-2018-16023 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 in 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 remote attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 category of Out-of-bounds Read, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices where applications access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the PDF parsing mechanisms of Adobe's document processing libraries. When a maliciously crafted PDF file is opened, the application fails to properly bounds-check memory accesses during the parsing of specific PDF objects or streams, allowing an attacker to read data from memory locations that should remain inaccessible. This occurs because the software does not validate the length or structure of data segments before attempting to access them, creating opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information from adjacent memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the extracted memory contents could potentially contain sensitive data such as encryption keys, user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information stored in the application's memory space. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to proprietary information or personal data, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Acrobat Reader is widely deployed. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that simply opening a malicious PDF file could trigger the information disclosure without requiring any additional user interaction or elevated privileges.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the techniques related to credential access and information gathering. The out-of-bounds read condition represents a foundational weakness that can be exploited as part of broader attack chains, potentially leading to more sophisticated compromises. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to prevent exploitation, while implementing network monitoring to detect potential attempts to deliver malicious PDF files. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version lines indicates a persistent flaw in Adobe's codebase that requires comprehensive remediation across all supported platforms. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening PDF files from untrusted sources, as this vulnerability can be effectively exploited through social engineering attacks that deliver malicious documents to unsuspecting users.