CVE-2018-19720 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 untrusted pointer dereference 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-2018-19720 represents a critical untrusted pointer dereference flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. This issue manifests in software versions including 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier, and 2015.006.30457 and earlier, creating a significant attack surface that cyber adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability resides in the applications' handling of pointer references, where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before dereferencing memory pointers. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that can be leveraged for remote code execution attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious content that, when processed by the affected Adobe applications, triggers an invalid pointer dereference operation. When the application attempts to access memory through an invalid pointer reference, it can result in a crash or more critically, allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through various attack vectors including malicious PDF files, web content, or email attachments that are opened within the vulnerable software environment. The exploitation process typically involves manipulating the application's memory management routines to redirect execution flow to attacker-controlled code.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-19720 extends beyond simple application instability to encompass full system compromise potential. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable Adobe application, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread deployment of Adobe Acrobat and Reader across enterprise environments and individual workstations. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, malware installation, and persistent threat presence within their networks. The vulnerability's exploitation can bypass many traditional security controls since it operates within the legitimate application execution context, making detection and prevention more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular security assessments and automated patch deployment systems. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defensive layers, while endpoint detection and response solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious pointer dereference patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under technique T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies for PDF processing and establishing strict access controls for Adobe application execution to minimize potential attack surface exposure.