CVE-2018-4977 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
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical use-after-free 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-416 category of Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to reference a memory location after it has been freed, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the freed memory for malicious purposes. The flaw exists in the handling of specific file formats within the PDF processing engine, where improper memory management leads to a situation where freed memory blocks can be reallocated and accessed by attacker-controlled code. When a malicious PDF file is opened, the application's parser processes certain elements that trigger the use-after-free condition, creating an opportunity for remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into opening maliciously crafted PDF documents, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, which may allow them to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. The attack vector typically involves crafting a specially designed PDF document that when processed by the vulnerable software triggers the memory corruption. This vulnerability aligns with several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework including initial access through malicious documents, execution via compromised applications, and privilege escalation if the user has elevated permissions. The impact extends beyond individual user systems as successful exploitation can lead to broader network infiltration and data exfiltration. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to code execution. Security professionals should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and user education to reduce social engineering success rates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory management practices in software development and the critical need for regular security updates to protect against known exploits. Without proper mitigation, this use-after-free vulnerability represents a significant threat to enterprise security and user data protection.