CVE-2018-19703 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
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier, and 2015.006.30457 and earlier versions. This vulnerability resides in the handling of PDF documents and represents a classic memory safety issue that falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The flaw occurs when the affected applications process malformed PDF files, specifically when parsing certain data structures that exceed expected boundaries during document rendering or parsing operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms within the PDF processing engine, allowing attackers to craft malicious PDF files that trigger memory access violations when the application attempts to read data beyond allocated memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases. When exploited successfully, the out-of-bounds read can expose sensitive memory contents including stack data, heap information, or other application-specific variables that may contain credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious PDF files through phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, or compromised websites, where users unknowingly open the crafted documents. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges and can be executed through standard user interactions with the vulnerable software, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from various sources.
Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability can be effectively mitigated through multiple approaches that align with industry best practices and security frameworks. The primary remediation involves updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which typically include enhanced bounds checking mechanisms and memory safety improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies, sandboxing mechanisms, and PDF content filtering solutions can provide defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the attack surface. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content inspection systems can also detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end-user systems. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and regular security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar flaws from emerging in future versions of the applications.