CVE-2018-16038 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 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 exists in multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2019.008.20081, 2017.011.30106, 2015.006.30457, and their respective earlier releases. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when processing specially crafted PDF files. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where an application attempts to access memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through the normal operation of the software when opening maliciously crafted documents, making it a prime target for exploitation in targeted attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to construct a PDF file that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader, causes the application to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds memory access can result in information disclosure, where sensitive data from the application's memory space may be exposed to the attacker. The flaw occurs during the parsing and rendering process of PDF documents, particularly when handling specific data structures or embedded objects within the file format. This type of vulnerability is classified as a memory safety issue and represents a critical weakness in the software's input validation and memory management mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploitation techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in the application's memory. The vulnerability's prevalence across multiple versions of Adobe's software means that a wide range of users could be affected, particularly those who regularly process PDF documents from untrusted sources. This makes it especially dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF files are commonly shared and opened by multiple users across different systems.
Organizations and individuals should immediately update to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to mitigate this vulnerability, as Adobe has released patches addressing the out-of-bounds read condition. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing strict PDF file validation procedures and avoiding the opening of suspicious or untrusted PDF documents from unknown sources. Security administrators should also consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious PDF files attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that rely on tricking users into opening malicious documents. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software up to date and maintaining robust security practices when handling potentially malicious files.