CVE-2018-5058 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 applications contain a critical heap overflow vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application processes untrusted input data without proper bounds checking. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to allocate memory on the heap for processing PDF content elements such as embedded objects or complex graphics, where insufficient validation allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient memory bounds checking enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. When a malicious PDF file is opened, the vulnerable parsing routine fails to properly validate the size of data structures, allowing an attacker to craft input that triggers the overflow condition. This condition typically occurs during the processing of embedded JavaScript code or complex graphical elements within PDF documents, where the application's memory management routines do not adequately protect against excessive data writes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise through arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially leading to privilege escalation attacks, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, making it an attractive target for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks. This aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Adobe security updates and patches, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Additional mitigations include implementing PDF sandboxing features, restricting user privileges when opening PDF files, and deploying email filtering solutions to prevent malicious PDF attachments from reaching users. Network-based defenses such as intrusion prevention systems and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Regular security awareness training for end users remains crucial, as social engineering remains the primary delivery mechanism for exploiting this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, reinforcing industry standards that emphasize defensive programming techniques to prevent heap-based buffer overflows.