CVE-2018-5024 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 PDF parsing engine. This flaw exists in the handling of malformed PDF files where the application fails to properly bounds-check memory accesses when processing specific embedded objects or streams. The vulnerability manifests when the software attempts to read data from memory locations that extend beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient checking of the length of input data, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in the security community. The out-of-bounds read occurs during the parsing of PDF content, particularly when processing malformed or crafted PDF documents that contain specially constructed data structures designed to trigger the vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, cause the application to read beyond its intended memory boundaries, potentially disclosing confidential data such as stack contents, heap information, or other sensitive memory segments. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents could contain cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the information disclosure could enable attackers to gather intelligence for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks in complex document processing software where parsing logic must handle a wide variety of input formats while maintaining memory safety. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader should prioritize immediate patching to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a potential foothold for information gathering and could serve as a precursor to more serious exploitation attempts. The flaw represents a fundamental issue in memory management within the PDF rendering pipeline, highlighting the importance of robust input validation and bounds checking in security-critical applications that process untrusted data formats.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-5024 requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF file, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of Adobe Reader across enterprise environments, where users may inadvertently open compromised documents through phishing campaigns or malicious web content. Security researchers have noted that such out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities often serve as stepping stones for more complex attacks, as the leaked memory information can reveal application state, memory layout details, or other sensitive data that could be used to craft more sophisticated exploits. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 underscores the importance of implementing proper input validation mechanisms, particularly in applications that process structured data formats like PDFs. From a defensive perspective, organizations should implement multiple layers of protection including regular patch management, email filtering, web application firewalls, and user education to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability as part of the initial access and persistence phases, where information gathering activities can lead to more advanced compromise techniques. Given the nature of PDF processing and the complexity of the format, this vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing document rendering engines against crafted inputs. The affected software versions represent a significant security risk that organizations must address through immediate remediation efforts, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. Security professionals should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and ensure that all endpoints running Adobe Reader are updated to patched versions that contain proper bounds checking mechanisms.