# CVE-2018-16018: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Attackers can bypass security features in Adobe Acrobat and Reader to achieve privilege escalation, requiring users to apply vendor patches.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Jan 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5mqh-hw35-9qmg

## What is CVE-2018-16018?

CVE-2018-16018 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Dc, published on 18 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20064 and earlier, 2019.010.20064 and earlier, 2017.011.30110 and earlier version, and 2015.006.30461 and earlier have a security bypass vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-16018?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Adobe Acrobat Dc, Adobe Acrobat Reader Dc.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-16018?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-16018 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-16018 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16018 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Acrobat Dc

- [CVE-2018-4990](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4990/): Adobe Acrobat and Reader Double Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-9715](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9715/): Adobe Acrobat Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-3792](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3792/): Use after free in Adobe Acrobat and Reader (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-3793](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3793/): Use after free in Adobe Acrobat and Reader (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-3795](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3795/): Memory corruption in Adobe Acrobat and Reader (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-16018 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-16018 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Dc, published on 18 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16018 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Adobe Acrobat Dc. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16018/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16018/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16018
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16018
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-16018

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16018/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.