CVE-2015-6697 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 obtain sensitive information about color objects from process memory by reading a light object's RGB data, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6699, CVE-2015-6700, CVE-2015-6701, CVE-2015-6702, CVE-2015-6703, and CVE-2015-6704.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patch levels contain a memory disclosure vulnerability that allows attackers to extract sensitive color object information from process memory through improper handling of light object RGB data. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions including Adobe Reader 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, as well as various Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous versions released in 2015. The flaw stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of color object data structures during processing, creating an information exposure condition where memory contents containing color information can be inadvertently revealed to attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory management when processing light objects within PDF documents. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat encounters a light object with RGB color data, the application fails to properly validate the memory boundaries of the color object structure, allowing an attacker to craft malicious PDF content that triggers memory read operations beyond intended data boundaries. This memory disclosure occurs through the light object's RGB data handling mechanism, which does not adequately protect against unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability specifically relates to how color objects are serialized and deserialized within the application's memory space, creating a path for information leakage through process memory access.
This vulnerability operates under the broader category of information disclosure flaws and aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to unintended actors. The operational impact of CVE-2015-6697 extends beyond simple data leakage as it provides attackers with potentially valuable color profile information that could be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to enhance attack effectiveness. The information obtained through this memory disclosure could include color space definitions, gamma values, and other color management parameters that might aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks or in understanding the target system's rendering characteristics. This type of information disclosure can serve as a stepping stone for more complex exploitation techniques, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities in the same product family.
The attack scenario typically involves an attacker crafting a malicious PDF document containing specially constructed light objects with malformed RGB data structures. When a victim opens such a document in an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, the application processes the color object data without proper boundary checking, causing the memory contents to be exposed. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects widely deployed software across multiple platforms including Windows and OS X operating systems. The impact is significant for enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly used for document processing, as it could potentially expose sensitive color management information that might be used in targeted attacks or for bypassing security measures.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-6697 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches and updates released by Adobe. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 10.1.16, 11.0.13, or the corresponding DC Classic and Continuous versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network-based security controls such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software updated and following security best practices for document handling, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted PDF content. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059 for execution through document readers and T1068 for privilege escalation opportunities that might arise from information disclosure.