CVE-2018-19710 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 • 08/03/2024
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 could be exploited by adversaries to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the software's PDF parsing mechanisms, where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits when processing malformed input data. This particular weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that occur when a program accesses memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer or array.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in software input validation and memory management practices. Attackers could craft malicious PDF documents that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, potentially allowing them to extract sensitive data from memory regions that should remain protected. This could include confidential documents, user credentials, system information, or other proprietary data that might be stored in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting languages, and T1566.001, which involves spearphishing attachments, as PDF files are commonly used in social engineering campaigns. The nature of the vulnerability suggests that it could be leveraged in advanced persistent threat scenarios where adversaries seek to gather intelligence from compromised systems.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on both immediate patching and operational security measures. The most effective defense involves upgrading to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, which address the underlying bounds checking deficiencies in the PDF processing engine. Additionally, implementing network security controls such as email filtering, web application firewalls, and PDF content inspection systems can help prevent malicious documents from reaching end users. Security teams should also consider deploying sandboxing solutions that isolate PDF processing in isolated environments, preventing potential information leakage even if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version lines indicates a widespread exposure that requires comprehensive remediation efforts across all affected software installations, particularly in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader remains a common tool for document viewing and collaboration.