CVE-2018-4982 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 Heap Overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2023
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical heap overflow 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 handling of malformed PDF files and represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application processes untrusted input without proper bounds checking. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to allocate memory on the heap for processing PDF content, specifically during the parsing of certain embedded objects or streams that exceed predetermined buffer sizes. This vulnerability maps to CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental memory safety issue. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems with the privileges of the current user. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that trigger the heap overflow when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, potentially enabling full system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it susceptible to phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. From an attack technique perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution which involves leveraging software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, creating multiple potential attack surfaces for adversaries. Successful exploitation typically results in a denial of service condition followed by code execution, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems.
The heap overflow occurs due to insufficient input validation and memory management practices within Adobe's PDF processing libraries. When the application encounters malformed data structures within PDF files, it fails to properly validate the size parameters before allocating heap memory, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical program execution data. The vulnerability is particularly challenging to mitigate because it requires updating the entire Adobe Reader or Acrobat suite, as partial patches or workarounds are ineffective against the core memory corruption issue. Organizations must implement comprehensive patch management procedures to address this vulnerability promptly, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains significant given the widespread use of Adobe products across enterprise networks. Security professionals should also consider network-based detection measures such as intrusion prevention systems that can identify and block malicious PDF content before it reaches end-user systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in document processing applications, as PDF files are commonly shared across organizations and represent a high-risk attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise user systems.