CVE-2018-5031 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-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an application attempts to read data from memory locations outside the bounds of a designated buffer or array. The flaw occurs when the software processes malformed PDF files, specifically during the parsing of certain embedded objects or streams that lack proper boundary checking mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to validate the length or size of data structures before accessing them in memory. When processing maliciously crafted PDF documents, the vulnerable code attempts to read beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. This type of memory corruption vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it can be exploited to extract confidential data such as encryption keys, user credentials, or system memory contents that may contain other sensitive information. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be triggered through user interaction with specially crafted PDF files, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks. Successful exploitation could enable threat actors to gather intelligence about the target system, including memory layout information that could be leveraged for additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of script-based commands, as attackers might utilize the information disclosure to craft more targeted attacks. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through web browsers or email attachments without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious document. The exposure period for this vulnerability was substantial, as it affected multiple major release versions across different years, making it a persistent threat in many enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to the latest versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement strict document validation policies and consider deploying sandboxing technologies to isolate PDF processing activities. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help prevent the delivery of malicious PDF files to end users. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include regular security updates and patch management procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future, emphasizing the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper security controls around document handling processes.