CVE-2018-4979 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 Security Bypass vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4979 represents a security bypass flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This issue specifically impacts versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, as well as 2015.006.30417 and earlier, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on these document processing platforms. The vulnerability resides within the software's handling of certain security mechanisms that are intended to protect against unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical nature of this security bypass vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of security controls within the Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. When processing certain document formats or executing specific operations, the software fails to properly enforce security boundaries that would normally prevent unauthorized information disclosure. This flaw allows attackers to circumvent intended protection mechanisms, potentially gaining access to data that should remain restricted. The vulnerability operates at a level where it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these applications are widely deployed.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4979 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the software's security architecture. Organizations using affected versions face potential exposure of sensitive documents, confidential data, and proprietary information that could be accessed through crafted malicious documents or exploitation of the bypass mechanism. The vulnerability's presence in multiple release lines indicates a persistent flaw in Adobe's security implementation that affects a broad user base across different software generations. This creates substantial risk for enterprises that may have legacy systems running older versions of the software, potentially leaving them vulnerable to targeted attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest available versions. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate all instances of the affected software across their networks. Additional defensive measures include network segmentation to limit access to document processing systems, implementation of strict document validation policies, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious activities related to PDF processing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK perspective under the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially malicious documents and establish robust incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.