CVE-2018-4954 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier have a Use-after-free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4954 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed or deallocated, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The flaw exists within the software's handling of specific file formats or processing operations that trigger memory management errors during document parsing or rendering activities.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within Adobe's PDF processing engine. When maliciously crafted PDF files are opened, the application's memory allocation and deallocation mechanisms fail to properly track object references, allowing attackers to overwrite freed memory regions with controlled data. This memory corruption can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially enabling full system compromise without requiring administrative rights. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2018-4954 poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is widely deployed for document viewing and processing. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns targeting end users with malicious PDF attachments, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios. The attack vector typically involves tricking users into opening specially crafted PDF documents that contain malicious code designed to exploit the memory management flaw. Once executed, the payload can establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data from compromised systems.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official Adobe patches and updates, as the risk of exploitation remains high given the widespread deployment of affected software versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Adobe Acrobat and Reader are updated to secure versions. Additional defensive measures include deploying sandboxing technologies, implementing strict email filtering policies, and conducting regular security awareness training to reduce user exposure to malicious PDF content. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which encompasses exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and persistence within target environments.