CVE-2018-5027 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 affects the parsing of PDF documents. This vulnerability resides in the way the software handles certain data structures within PDF files, specifically in the processing of embedded objects and streams that are not properly validated before access. The flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, can trigger memory access violations that result in information disclosure. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which represents a classic memory safety issue where the application attempts to read data from memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious PDF document contains crafted data structures that cause the PDF parser to access memory locations that are not properly bounds-checked. When the vulnerable application processes such malformed data, it reads beyond the intended memory boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions including stack contents, heap data, or other application memory segments. This information disclosure can include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data that may be stored in memory adjacent to the vulnerable code paths. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through simple document opening actions, making it a significant threat vector for phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5027 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage the information disclosed through this vulnerability to gain insights into the application's memory layout, which could aid in developing more advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's PDF processing software, making it widespread across various deployment environments and increasing the potential attack surface. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader are particularly at risk, as these versions have not received security updates to address the memory safety issues. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers may use disclosed information to craft more targeted payloads and exploit additional vulnerabilities within the same application ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5027 require immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to the latest security updates. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies, particularly for PDF files received from external sources or untrusted parties. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help prevent the delivery of malicious PDF files to end users. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening PDF documents from unknown sources and should be trained to verify document authenticity before processing. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping software updated and maintaining robust security hygiene practices to prevent exploitation of memory safety issues that can lead to significant information disclosure risks.