CVE-2018-4983 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4983 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across multiple version lines including 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating a scenario where subsequent memory operations can corrupt data or allow attackers to execute malicious code. The flaw exists within the software's handling of specific document objects and memory management routines, making it particularly dangerous in the context of PDF processing where arbitrary file execution is possible. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through malicious document handling.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PDF document that triggers the specific memory management error during document parsing. When Adobe Acrobat or Reader processes such a document, the application's memory management system frees certain object references while still maintaining pointers to those locations. An attacker can manipulate the document structure to cause the application to access this freed memory, potentially allowing code execution with the privileges of the current user. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to convince users to open the malicious document, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may not be security-aware. This use-after-free condition creates a memory corruption scenario that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access to compromised systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4983 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects widely deployed software across enterprise networks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to critical infrastructure. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where PDF documents are frequently exchanged and opened. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution means that attackers could install backdoors, steal sensitive information, or deploy additional malware. The memory corruption aspect also makes exploitation reliable and predictable, as the use-after-free condition creates consistent opportunities for code injection. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through data access, integrity through potential modification of system state, and availability through potential denial of service or complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4983 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Adobe, as the vendor has released security updates addressing the specific memory management flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through suspicious PDF document handling activities. Security teams must enforce strict document handling policies, including mandatory antivirus scanning of all PDF files and disabling of automatic PDF opening features in web browsers. The implementation of privilege separation and least-privilege principles can limit the damage from successful exploitation by ensuring that user accounts have minimal system access rights. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can further reduce attack surface by limiting which systems can process potentially malicious PDF documents. Additionally, security awareness training should be implemented to educate users about the risks of opening untrusted PDF files and the importance of verifying document sources before processing. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions with advanced threat detection capabilities to identify and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.