CVE-2018-5029 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 represents a significant security risk for end users and organizations. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs. The flaw occurs when the software fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries during processing of maliciously crafted PDF files, leading to memory access violations that can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to read data from memory locations that are outside the bounds of allocated buffers, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks. When exploited successfully, the out-of-bounds read can reveal memory contents that may include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might use the leaked information to craft more targeted attacks against systems. The memory disclosure aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where Adobe Reader is frequently used to process untrusted documents, such as email attachments or web downloads.
Organizations and users should immediately update to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to remediate this vulnerability. Adobe released patches addressing this issue in their security bulletins, and system administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems are updated. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and email security gateways that can detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end users. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of principle of least privilege and sandboxing mechanisms, as attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges or access additional system resources through the information disclosure. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement appropriate incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.