CVE-2018-4898: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC ImageConversion XPS Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Feb 27, 2018
·
Updated

An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30394 and earlier versions. The vulnerability is caused by the computation that writes data past the end of the intended buffer; the computation is part of the XPS engine that adds vector graphics and images to a fixed page. An attacker can potentially leverage the vulnerability to corrupt sensitive data or execute arbitrary code.

Other sources

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of XPS files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process.

Affected Software

7 affected components
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Adobe Acrobat>=17.0<=17.011.30070
Adobe Acrobat DC>=-<=18.009.20050
Adobe Acrobat DC>=15.0<=15.006.30394
Adobe Acrobat Reader>=17.0<=17.011.30070
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC>=-<=18.009.20050
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC>=15.0<=15.006.30394

Event History

Feb 27, 2018
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:00 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Feb 26, 2025
Advisory Published
12:03 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2018-4898?

CVE-2018-4898 is rated as critical due to its potential to allow arbitrary code execution.

2

How do I fix CVE-2018-4898?

To remediate CVE-2018-4898, update Adobe Acrobat Reader and Acrobat Pro DC to the latest version as recommended by Adobe.

3

What versions are affected by CVE-2018-4898?

CVE-2018-4898 affects Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 2018.009.20050 and earlier, as well as Acrobat Pro DC and Acrobat DC classics up to specific earlier versions.

4

What type of attack can exploit CVE-2018-4898?

CVE-2018-4898 can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine, compromising the system.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2018-4898 if I can't update right away?

While the best solution is to update, users may temporarily limit PDF file access from untrusted sources to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2018-4898.

Contact

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