CVE-2018-5038 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 Heap Overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2023
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions prior to 2018.011.20040, 2017.011.30080, and 2015.006.30418 contain a critical heap overflow vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for users of these applications. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the processing of PDF documents, specifically when handling malformed or specially crafted input data. The heap overflow occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory blocks, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute arbitrary code. The flaw manifests when the software processes certain PDF elements that trigger buffer overflow conditions in the heap memory allocation routines, which are commonly used for handling various document components such as embedded objects, fonts, or graphics elements.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF file. Attackers can craft specially designed PDF documents that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger the heap overflow condition. This exploitation model follows the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the use of malicious documents to gain initial access and execute code on target systems. The vulnerability's exploitability is further enhanced by the fact that Adobe Reader is widely installed across enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within networks.
The security implications extend beyond simple code execution as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, establish backdoors, or extract sensitive data from compromised systems. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face significant risk due to the widespread adoption of these applications across corporate networks, educational institutions, and government agencies. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks where social engineering can be combined with the technical exploit. Network defenders must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape, implementing layered defenses including email filtering, web application firewalls, and regular patch management to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The remediation strategy should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe applications, as well as implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing PDF processing and restricting user privileges when opening potentially malicious documents.