CVE-2018-4960 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 an Out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the software's document processing engine, specifically when handling malformed PDF files. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during PDF parsing operations. According to CWE-129, this represents an implementation weakness where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits before accessing memory regions. The vulnerability exists in the document object model parsing functionality that processes various PDF elements including embedded objects, streams, and metadata structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. When exploited, the out-of-bounds read can expose sensitive memory contents including stack canaries, heap metadata, or even credentials stored in adjacent memory locations. Attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that trigger the vulnerability during normal document rendering operations, causing the application to read beyond intended memory boundaries. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers may leverage the information disclosure to gain insights into memory layout for further exploitation. The vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile implementations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF attachments from untrusted sources.
Exploitation of CVE-2018-4960 typically requires social engineering to deliver malicious PDF files to target systems, as the vulnerability is triggered during normal document processing rather than through direct network attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges indicates a persistent flaw in Adobe's parsing logic that was not adequately addressed across different product releases. Organizations running affected versions should implement immediate mitigations including disabling PDF preview functionality, implementing strict file validation policies, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious PDF traffic. Adobe released patches for this vulnerability in subsequent updates, but many organizations remain vulnerable due to delayed patch management processes. The security community has classified this as a medium to high severity vulnerability due to its potential for information disclosure and the ease with which attackers can craft exploitable PDF documents. System administrators should prioritize patching affected installations and consider implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing PDF rendering processes to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.