CVE-2018-4890 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30394 and earlier versions. This vulnerability is an instance of a heap overflow vulnerability in the image conversion engine, when handling JPEG data embedded within an XPS file. A successful attack can lead to code corruption, control-flow hijack, or an information leak attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical heap overflow condition within Adobe Acrobat Reader's image processing capabilities, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2018.009.20050, 2017.011.30070, and 2015.006.30394. The flaw resides in the image conversion engine's handling of JPEG data embedded within XPS (XML Paper Specification) documents, creating a dangerous scenario where malformed or maliciously crafted image data can trigger memory corruption. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the processing of compressed image formats, allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory layout through carefully constructed input data.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper memory management within the JPEG decompression routine that processes embedded images in XPS documents. When Acrobat Reader encounters JPEG data within an XPS file, the application's memory allocation routines fail to properly validate the size and structure of the incoming image data, leading to buffer overflows that can overwrite adjacent memory regions. This heap corruption creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution, as attackers can manipulate the program's control flow by overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical execution data structures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how image processing libraries can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4890 extends beyond simple memory corruption, presenting significant risks to enterprise security environments where PDF and XPS documents are commonly shared and processed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns targeting users who open maliciously crafted XPS files containing embedded JPEG data, potentially leading to complete system compromise without user interaction. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in information disclosure, where sensitive memory contents may be read by attackers, or more severe outcomes including remote code execution and privilege escalation. This makes it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where document sharing is routine and security controls may not adequately prevent the execution of untrusted content.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment, as Adobe released updates addressing the heap overflow in affected versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive document filtering policies that restrict the processing of XPS files from untrusted sources, combined with network-level controls that block suspicious file types. The implementation of sandboxing technologies and privilege separation measures can significantly reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify attempts to process malformed XPS documents. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of proper input validation in multimedia processing libraries and demonstrates how seemingly benign document formats can become sophisticated attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique through memory corruption, with potential for privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised environments.