CVE-2015-6685 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by using the Format action for unspecified fields, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6686, CVE-2015-6693, CVE-2015-6694, CVE-2015-6695, and CVE-2015-7622.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patched releases contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through improper handling of the Format action in unspecified fields. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, as well as various Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous versions released before their respective patch levels. The flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted PDF documents that utilize the Format action mechanism, which is part of the PDF specification for formatting text and other content elements. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from several related CVEs including CVE-2015-6686, CVE-2015-6693, CVE-2015-6694, CVE-2015-6695, and CVE-2015-7622, indicating that attackers can leverage this specific memory corruption weakness to gain unauthorized system access or cause service disruption. The technical implementation involves improper validation of input parameters within the Format action handler, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. The vulnerability impacts both Windows and OS X operating systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple platforms may be in use. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code through PDF documents. The operational impact includes potential complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation, particularly when exploited in targeted attacks against high-value targets. Organizations should immediately implement patches for all affected versions and consider network segmentation to limit exposure. Additionally, implementing PDF document scanning and user education about malicious file attachments can provide layered defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in PDF processing security and highlights the importance of regular software updates and vulnerability management programs in protecting against sophisticated attacks.