CVE-2018-16037 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 • 07/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16037 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 the use of freed memory conditions that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation. The affected versions span across different release cycles 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 iterations. The flaw manifests in the way the applications handle memory management during object lifecycle operations, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate freed memory pointers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves scenarios where the software allocates memory for objects and subsequently frees that memory while still maintaining references to it. When the application attempts to access or manipulate the freed memory region, it can result in a use after free condition that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to bypass modern exploit mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution protection. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious PDF files that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the application to free memory and then access it again through controlled inputs.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential full system compromise. Attackers can leverage the use after free condition to escalate privileges, install backdoors, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that organizations across various sectors remain at risk, particularly those with legacy systems still running older Acrobat Reader versions. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering attacks via malicious PDF attachments, making it particularly challenging to defend against in enterprise environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under the execution phase, specifically targeting application security flaws in document processing software.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain patches for this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing strict PDF file validation policies, deploying sandboxing solutions for PDF processing, and maintaining comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments targeting Adobe products and implement automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates. The use of network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts, while regular security awareness training can help reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that may leverage this vulnerability.