CVE-2018-5055 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 resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and occurs when the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw manifests when processing specially crafted PDF documents that contain malformed data structures, particularly within the document object hierarchy or stream parsing components. The out-of-bounds read condition allows an attacker to access memory regions that should not be accessible, potentially exposing sensitive data from the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-129, representing an insufficient bounds check, and falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that are frequently exploited in targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can be leveraged in more sophisticated attack vectors. When exploited, the vulnerability may allow an attacker to extract memory contents that could include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other sensitive information stored in the application's memory. The attack typically requires the user to open a maliciously crafted PDF file, making social engineering a critical component of successful exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of PDF files as attack vectors in phishing campaigns and targeted attacks. The memory disclosure could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve arbitrary code execution, though the direct execution capability is limited compared to more severe memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate patching and operational security improvements. Organizations should prioritize updating all instances of Adobe Acrobat and Reader to versions that contain the security fixes, with the earliest patched versions being 2018.011.20040, 2017.011.30080, and 2015.006.30418 respectively. Beyond patching, implementing additional security controls such as PDF file scanning, restricted user permissions, and sandboxing mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Network-based security solutions should be configured to block suspicious PDF content, particularly when downloaded from untrusted sources. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as the out-of-bounds read represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can have cascading effects on overall system security. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all endpoints.