Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader.[1] The most severe could allow for arbitrary code execution. In computer security, "arbitrary code execution" is used to describe an attacker's ability to execute any command of the attacker's choice on a target machine or in a target process. Adobe Acrobat and Reader allow a user to view, create, manipulate, print and manage files in Portable Document Format (PDF). Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker executing arbitrary code in the context of the affected application. Depending on the privileges connected with this malicious application, an attacker could install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
- Adobe Acrobat DC (Consumer Track) for Windows and Macintosh versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Consumer Track) for Windows and Macintosh versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat 2017 (Classic 2017 Track) for Windows and Macintosh versions 2017.011.30079 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 2017 (Classic 2017 Track) for Windows and Macintosh versions 2017.011.30079 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat DC (Classic 2015 Track) for Windows and Macintosh versions 2015.006.30417 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Classic 2015 Track) for Windows and Macintosh versions 2015.006.30417 and earlier
Mitigation and Recommendations:
Actions to be taken:
- Install the updates provided by Adobe immediately after appropriate testing.
- Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
- Remind users not to visit websites or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
- Inform and educate users regarding the threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from un-trusted sources.
- Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.[1]
TECHNICAL SUMMARY:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader, the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerabilities are as follows:
- One double free vulnerability that could allow for arbitrary code execution (CVE-2018-4990)
- Seven heap overflow vulnerabilities that could allow for arbitrary code execution (CVE-2018-4947, CVE-2018-4948, CVE-2018-4966, CVE-2018-4968, CVE-2018-4978, CVE-2018-4982, CVE-2018-4984)
- Thirteen use-after-free vulnerabilities that could allow for arbitrary code execution (CVE-2018-4946, CVE-2018-4952, CVE-2018-4954, CVE-2018-4958, CVE-2018-4959, CVE-2018-4961, CVE-2018-4971, CVE-2018-4974, CVE-2018-4977, CVE-2018-4980, CVE-2018-4983, CVE-2018-4988, CVE-2018-4989)
- One out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could allow for arbitrary code execution (CVE-2018-4950)
- One security bypass vulnerability that could allow for information disclosure (CVE-2018-4979)
- Nineteen out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that could allow for information disclosure (CVE-2018-4949, CVE-2018-4951, CVE-2018-4955, CVE-2018-4956, CVE-2018-4957, CVE-2018-4960, CVE-2018-4962, CVE-2018-4963, CVE-2018-4964, CVE-2018-4967, CVE-2018-4969, CVE-2018-4970, CVE-2018-4972, CVE-2018-4973, CVE-2018-4975, CVE-2018-4976, CVE-2018-4981, CVE-2018-4986, CVE-2018-4985)
- One type confusion that could allow for arbitrary code execution (CVE-2018-4953)
- One untrusted pointer dereference that could allow for arbitrary code execution (CVE-2018-4987)
- One memory corruption vulnerability that could allow for information disclosure (CVE-2018-4965)
- One NTLM SSO hash theft vulnerability that could allow for information disclosure (CVE-2018-4993)
- One HTTP POST new line injection via XFA submission that could allow for security bypass (CVE-2018-4994)
Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker executing arbitrary code in the context of the affected application. Depending on the privileges associated with this application, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. If this application has been configured to have fewer user rights on the system, exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could have less impact than if it was configured with administrative rights.
[1] https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-4946
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-4947
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-4948
[1] https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb18-09.html
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