CVE-2018-5019 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier versions have an Out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions prior to 2018.011.20040, 2017.011.30080, and 2015.006.30418 contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that stems from improper input validation within the document parsing functionality. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers. The flaw occurs when the application processes malformed PDF files that contain crafted data structures, particularly within the document metadata or embedded object handling. When the parsing engine attempts to read data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, it can access memory locations containing sensitive information that was not intended to be exposed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential attack vectors for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. An attacker who successfully crafts a malicious PDF document could leverage this out-of-bounds read to extract memory contents including but not limited to cryptographic keys, user credentials, or sensitive application state information. This vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it could enable attackers to gain additional information that might be used for further exploitation. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the widespread use of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to sensitive organizational data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment to the latest available versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as Adobe has released security updates addressing this specific flaw. Organizations should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious PDF file transfers and consider deploying sandboxing technologies to isolate PDF processing activities. Additionally, security administrators should enforce strict file validation policies that prevent the execution of untrusted PDF documents, particularly those received via email or downloaded from unverified sources. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that target widely used applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious PDF content before it reaches end-user systems.