CVE-2018-19701 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 in the document parsing mechanisms. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation and memory management errors within the software's rendering engine, where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The technical nature of this issue places it squarely within the category of memory safety vulnerabilities, which are commonly classified under CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" according to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. This particular weakness allows attackers to potentially read sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, which may contain confidential information such as passwords, encryption keys, or other system data that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within targeted environments. When an attacker successfully exploits this out-of-bounds read condition, they can potentially extract memory contents that may include authentication tokens, session data, or other sensitive information that could be used to impersonate legitimate users or gain deeper system access. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that organizations using these applications face significant risk, particularly in environments where PDF documents are frequently opened or processed. The attack vector typically involves the delivery of a malicious PDF file through social engineering techniques, phishing campaigns, or compromised websites, where unsuspecting users inadvertently trigger the vulnerable code path upon document opening. This vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access through spearphishing attachments and privilege escalation through credential access, as the information disclosure could lead to further compromise of user accounts or system resources.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official Adobe security updates and patches, as the out-of-bounds read condition represents a significant risk to data confidentiality and system integrity. System administrators should implement strict document access controls, including sandboxing PDF viewing applications and restricting the opening of PDF files from untrusted sources. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and email filtering systems should be configured to detect and block potentially malicious PDF attachments. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar weaknesses in other applications. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory access patterns and anomalous data extraction behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust security models where all document processing occurs in isolated environments to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce compatibility issues with legitimate document processing requirements while maintaining the security posture against this specific out-of-bounds read vulnerability.