CVE-2023-38240 : What You Need to Know

Understanding CVE-2023-38240

Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 23.003.20244 (and earlier) and 20.005.30467 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass mitigations such as ASLR. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

What is CVE-2023-38240?

CVE-2023-38240 is a vulnerability impacting Adobe Acrobat Reader versions, allowing attackers to read sensitive memory out of bounds, potentially leading to information disclosure.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38240

This vulnerability has a base severity rating of MEDIUM and a CVSS base score of 5.5. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access confidential information stored in memory.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38240

Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 23.003.20244 (and earlier) and 20.005.30467 (and earlier) are susceptible to this out-of-bounds read vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to read sensitive memory out of bounds, potentially leading to information disclosure.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Vendor: Adobe
Affected Versions: 23.003.20244 and earlier, 20.005.30467 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, where a victim must open a malicious file for the attacker to leverage this issue.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-38240, follow these best practices:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version.
Avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Implement security awareness training for users.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications.
Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
Monitor security advisories from Adobe and apply patches promptly.