CVE-2018-4914 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 occurs as a result of computation that reads data that is past the end of the target buffer; the computation is part of the TIFF processing in the XPS engine. A successful attack can lead to sensitive data exposure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2024
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat Reader across multiple version ranges including 2018.009.20050 and earlier, 2017.011.30070 and earlier, and 2015.006.30394 and earlier versions. The flaw manifests within the XPS engine's processing of TIFF files, specifically when handling buffer boundaries during data computation operations. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition where the application attempts to read data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of the target buffer. This type of flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions where programs access memory locations outside the intended buffer limits. The issue occurs during TIFF file processing within the XPS engine, indicating a complex interaction between different document processing components within the Adobe Acrobat Reader application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially enable more severe exploitation vectors. When an attacker crafts a malicious TIFF file that triggers this out-of-bounds read condition, the application may inadvertently expose sensitive memory contents to unauthorized parties. This could include confidential data, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's presence in the XPS engine suggests that it may be triggered through various document formats that rely on XPS processing capabilities, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as attackers could leverage such memory exposure to gather intelligence for more sophisticated attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability demonstrates how complex document processing engines can introduce security risks through seemingly benign operations. The TIFF processing within the XPS engine creates a scenario where input validation may be insufficient to prevent boundary violations during memory access operations. This particular flaw represents a failure in proper bounds checking mechanisms that should prevent any memory access operations from exceeding allocated buffer limits. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is heightened by the fact that it can be triggered through standard document handling operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability type typically requires minimal user interaction for exploitation, as simply opening a malicious document containing the crafted TIFF file can trigger the condition.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat Reader versions, as well as implementing broader security controls around document handling. Organizations should consider deploying automated patch management solutions to ensure timely remediation across all affected systems. Network-based protections such as email filtering and web application firewalls should be configured to block or scan TIFF files from untrusted sources. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected document attachments, particularly those that may contain embedded processing components like the XPS engine. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow makes it susceptible to exploitation through various attack vectors, including social engineering campaigns that distribute malicious documents designed to trigger this specific condition. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar buffer boundary violations in other document processing components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being overlooked.