CVE-2018-5049 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 a program accesses memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer. The flaw occurs when the software processes maliciously crafted PDF files that contain malformed data structures, specifically within the document object hierarchy where the application fails to properly validate array indices or memory offsets before accessing them.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker crafting a PDF document that triggers an invalid memory access pattern during the parsing process. When the vulnerable software attempts to read data from a memory location that falls outside the allocated buffer boundaries, it may inadvertently expose sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. This information disclosure can include memory contents such as stack data, heap information, or other sensitive data that happens to be stored in the adjacent memory locations. The out-of-bounds read can potentially leak credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information that resides in the memory space adjacent to the targeted buffer.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations that rely on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing and viewing. Attackers can leverage this weakness by delivering malicious PDF files through phishing campaigns, exploit kits, or compromised websites, where unsuspecting users might open the documents with vulnerable software versions. The information disclosure aspect makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with additional attack vectors or sensitive data that can be used for further compromise. The vulnerability is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the T1059 technique for command and control communications, as leaked memory contents could contain network credentials or session information that enables persistence and lateral movement.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to remediate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement security awareness training to educate users about the risks of opening untrusted PDF documents and establish robust patch management processes. Additionally, network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to limit the potential impact of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security controls to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to information disclosure attacks.