CVE-2018-4969 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 version ranges including 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically representing an improper input validation issue where the software fails to properly validate array indices before accessing memory locations. The flaw occurs when processing maliciously crafted pdf files that contain malformed data structures which trigger an out-of-bounds memory access during the parsing of specific object types within the document. When exploited, this vulnerability allows an attacker to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from the application's memory space. The out-of-bounds read condition can be triggered through crafted pdf files that manipulate the document structure to cause the application to access memory locations that are not properly validated. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can lead to information disclosure attacks where attackers can extract confidential data such as encryption keys, passwords, or other sensitive information stored in the application's memory. The vulnerability aligns with attack techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category for execution and T1566 for initial access through malicious documents. The impact of successful exploitation extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can provide attackers with enough information to potentially craft more sophisticated attacks against the target system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is widely deployed and users frequently open pdf documents from untrusted sources. Organizations should prioritize patching affected versions to prevent exploitation attempts that could lead to data breaches or further compromise of systems. The memory access violation can also potentially lead to application instability or crashes, making this a significant security concern for users who rely on these applications for document processing. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability is relatively easy to exploit due to the predictable nature of the out-of-bounds read condition. The affected versions represent a substantial portion of Adobe Reader deployments, making this vulnerability particularly impactful across various industries and organizations. Proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms should be implemented to prevent similar issues in future versions of the software. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory management practices in document processing applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of parsing functions. Organizations should implement additional security measures such as pdf sandboxing and restricted file access to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the risks associated with legacy software versions and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all deployed applications.