CVE-2018-4998 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.009.20050 and earlier, 2017.011.30070 and earlier, and 2015.006.30394 and earlier have a Memory corruption 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 • 03/03/2020
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a memory corruption vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different release cycles. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during document processing, specifically when parsing certain PDF file structures. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate memory allocation and deallocation patterns in ways that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual exploitation mechanism involves more complex memory corruption patterns that can manifest as heap corruption or use-after-free conditions. The affected versions span across three major release cycles including 2018.009.20050 and earlier, 2017.011.30070 and earlier, and 2015.006.30394 and earlier, indicating a long-standing issue that persisted across multiple security updates. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires user interaction to be exploited, typically through malicious PDF files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The exploitation technique aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where attackers leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user account. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can result in complete system compromise as the malicious code executes with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable Adobe application. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of PDF objects and can be triggered by malformed or specially crafted PDF files that exploit improper bounds checking and memory management routines. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, though the attack vector typically involves social engineering to get users to open infected files. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can leverage the vulnerability to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited in targeted attacks against specific users or organizations, making it a prime candidate for zero-day exploitation in advanced persistent threat campaigns. The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful crafting of PDF files that can bypass standard security measures while still triggering the memory corruption. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability can be detected through memory analysis and pattern recognition techniques that monitor for abnormal memory access patterns during PDF processing. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable when users have administrative privileges, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise. Mitigation strategies include immediate patching of all affected versions, implementing strict PDF file validation policies, and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of untrusted PDF files. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain comprehensive software inventory management to identify and remediate such critical flaws promptly. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and signature-based detection methods.