CVE-2018-5054 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 applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and represents a classic memory safety issue that falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted PDF documents that contain malformed data structures, particularly within the document parsing routines that handle embedded objects and streams. When the parser attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, it reads data from adjacent memory regions that may contain sensitive information such as passwords, encryption keys, or other confidential data that was previously stored in memory. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1557 for proxy through shellcode execution. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially enable attackers to extract sensitive data from the application's memory space, undermining the confidentiality protections that PDF readers are designed to provide. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through social engineering techniques where users open maliciously crafted PDF files, making it a significant threat in targeted attack scenarios. The out-of-bounds read condition creates an exploitable path that allows attackers to access memory contents that should remain protected, effectively bypassing the security boundaries that separate legitimate application data from sensitive information. This type of vulnerability often requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors who seek to establish long-term access to sensitive environments. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through memory corruption attacks, though in this case the attack vector is more accurately described as remote code execution through crafted file delivery. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The remediation process should include comprehensive security assessments of PDF handling processes and implementation of additional controls such as PDF sandboxing and content filtering to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in PDF processing security, where complex document formats create numerous attack surfaces for memory corruption exploits. The out-of-bounds read condition represents a fundamental flaw in memory management where the application fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during PDF parsing operations. The affected versions span multiple major releases, indicating that this vulnerability has persisted across several generations of Adobe's PDF processing engine, highlighting the difficulty in maintaining memory safety in complex document handling systems. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability is particularly significant because PDF readers often handle sensitive data from various sources including encrypted documents, digital signatures, and embedded scripts that may contain confidential information. The vulnerability's presence in all three affected version lines suggests that the underlying memory management issue was not properly addressed through the application's development lifecycle, potentially indicating gaps in code review processes and automated testing procedures that should have identified such memory safety issues. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of broader PDF security assessments that include evaluating the entire document processing pipeline from initial file parsing through final rendering operations, as the attack surface extends beyond simple buffer overflows to include potential privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability's exploitation characteristics align with ATT&CK tactic T1566 which covers initial access through spearphishing campaigns, where malicious PDF files serve as delivery mechanisms for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should implement layered defense strategies including email filtering, web proxy controls, and endpoint detection systems to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, as the simple act of opening a PDF file can potentially compromise system security. The remediation process must also include user education to prevent social engineering attacks that leverage this vulnerability, as attackers can easily craft convincing phishing emails that contain malicious PDF attachments designed to exploit this specific out-of-bounds read condition.