CVE-2018-5037 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 a Buffer Errors vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5037 represents a critical buffer error flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across different release cycles. This vulnerability manifests in versions 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, as well as 2015.006.30418 and earlier, indicating a long-standing issue that spans multiple major releases of Adobe's document processing software. The buffer error vulnerability typically arises when software fails to properly validate input data sizes before writing to memory buffers, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption patterns.
The technical nature of this buffer error vulnerability places it firmly within the realm of memory safety issues that can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the security context of the currently logged-in user. This means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise without requiring administrative privileges, as the malicious code would run with the same permissions as the legitimate user. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tactics and techniques framework, particularly those involving code injection and privilege escalation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing and sharing. The fact that it affects multiple versions across different years suggests that many organizations may have legacy installations that remain unpatched, creating extended attack windows. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, typically through opening a maliciously crafted PDF file, which makes it susceptible to social engineering attacks and phishing campaigns. This attack vector aligns with the common practice of delivering malicious payloads through document attachments in corporate and personal email systems.
The security implications extend beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader system compromise potential. Once an attacker gains execution privileges through this buffer error, they can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive data, install additional malware, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly used for document sharing and collaboration, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and application whitelisting policies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5037 should prioritize immediate patching of affected software versions, as Adobe has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement defensive measures such as PDF sandboxing, email filtering, and user education to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer error places it under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, which are among the most commonly exploited weaknesses in software applications. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning and monitoring systems to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as this type of vulnerability often leaves detectable traces in system logs and network traffic patterns.