CVE-2015-6695 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) via crafted use of the value attribute, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6685, CVE-2015-6686, CVE-2015-6693, CVE-2015-6694, and CVE-2015-7622.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patches contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through malformed value attribute manipulation. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, along with Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous versions before their respective patch levels. The flaw manifests when processing crafted PDF documents that contain malicious value attributes, creating a condition where memory corruption occurs during document parsing operations. This vulnerability operates independently from other related issues such as CVE-2015-6685, CVE-2015-6686, CVE-2015-6693, CVE-2015-6694, and CVE-2015-7622, indicating a distinct code path and exploitation mechanism. The technical implementation involves improper input validation and memory management during the processing of PDF elements, specifically targeting the handling of attribute values within document structures. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious PDF files that trigger memory corruption when opened or processed by vulnerable applications. The exploitation typically results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user, potentially allowing full system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common in memory corruption scenarios. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The attack surface extends across both Windows and macOS operating systems, increasing the potential impact scope. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face elevated risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where PDF document handling is common. The memory corruption nature of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to bypass modern security mitigations like DEP and ASLR. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203, which involves exploitation for execution, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters. The vulnerability's impact severity is classified as critical due to its potential for remote code execution without user interaction, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and malicious websites. The remediation process involves updating to the patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat products, which include enhanced input validation and memory management routines. Security teams should also implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to reduce the risk of exploitation while patches are being deployed. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure.