CVE-2015-6683 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 2015.006.30094, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 2015.009.20069 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5586, CVE-2015-6684, CVE-2015-6687, CVE-2015-6688, CVE-2015-6689, CVE-2015-6690, CVE-2015-6691, CVE-2015-7615, CVE-2015-7617, and CVE-2015-7621.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
This use-after-free vulnerability exists in Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions and operating systems, presenting a critical security risk that enables remote code execution. The flaw occurs when the software handles memory management for objects that have already been freed, creating a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the system to execute malicious code. This vulnerability specifically affects Adobe Reader versions 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, along with Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 2015.006.30094 and DC Continuous before 2015.009.20069 on both Windows and OS X platforms. The vulnerability represents a classic memory corruption issue that falls under CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition. The attack vector involves unspecified methods that allow adversaries to leverage the freed memory pointer for arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it enables attackers to gain full control over affected systems. When an attacker successfully triggers the use-after-free condition, they can manipulate the memory layout to redirect execution flow and inject malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for privilege escalation and persistent system compromise, as demonstrated by various threat actor campaigns that have exploited similar memory corruption flaws in Adobe products. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions and platforms increases its attack surface significantly, making it a prime target for nation-state actors and organized cybercriminal groups who seek to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access vectors in multi-stage attack campaigns, where the initial compromise leads to further reconnaissance and lateral movement within target environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe products, as the flaw cannot be effectively addressed through configuration changes or network segmentation alone. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically those that have been patched against this particular use-after-free condition. System administrators must implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all endpoints receive timely security updates, particularly given the widespread use of Adobe products in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and script interpreter execution, indicates that successful exploitation would likely enable attackers to execute commands and establish persistence. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the memory corruption nature of the flaw may generate unusual network traffic patterns or system behavior that could indicate compromise. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unsigned code and reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.