CVE-2018-4975 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 resides in the PDF parsing functionality where the software fails to properly validate array indices when processing malformed PDF files. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during PDF object processing, particularly when handling embedded JavaScript or complex graphics elements. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that can lead to memory corruption issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. When an attacker successfully exploits this out-of-bounds read condition, they can access sensitive memory contents that may include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application state information. The vulnerability can be triggered through maliciously crafted PDF files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially extract confidential information from the targeted system's memory space, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where sensitive data is frequently processed through these applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1068 for exploit development through application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application from Adobe, as the company released security updates specifically addressing this issue in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement strict PDF file scanning and validation protocols before processing any documents, particularly those received from untrusted sources. Network administrators should consider implementing web proxies with PDF content filtering capabilities to prevent malicious documents from reaching end users. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify suspicious PDF processing activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that can leverage well-known vulnerabilities in widely used applications.