CVE-2015-6699 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
The addForegroundSprite function 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 obtain sensitive information from process memory via invalid arguments, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6697, 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 • 11/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6699 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Adobe Reader and Acrobat software ecosystems, specifically affecting versions prior to their respective security patches released in 2015. This vulnerability resides within the addForegroundSprite function, which is part of the core rendering and graphics processing components responsible for handling multimedia elements within pdf documents. The flaw manifests when the function processes invalid arguments, leading to improper memory handling that can result in sensitive data exposure from process memory. This vulnerability operates independently from several other related issues including CVE-2015-6697 through CVE-2015-6704, indicating a distinct code path and memory access pattern that requires separate remediation approaches. The affected platforms include Windows and OS X operating systems, making this vulnerability applicable across major desktop computing environments where Adobe's document processing software remains prevalent. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" in software systems where improper handling of input parameters leads to unintended data disclosure.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2015-6699 occurs through a memory corruption mechanism that arises when the addForegroundSprite function receives malformed or unexpected parameter values. When processing these invalid arguments, the software fails to properly validate input boundaries and memory allocation, potentially causing the function to read beyond allocated memory regions or access uninitialized memory segments. This improper memory access pattern allows attackers to craft malicious pdf documents that, when opened in vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, can trigger the flawed code path and extract sensitive information from the application's memory space. The extracted data may include cryptographic keys, user credentials, system information, or other confidential data that should remain protected within the application's secure execution context. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can provide attackers with sufficient data to perform more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or further exploitation of the compromised system. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1005 for data from local system, as it enables adversaries to extract sensitive data from the target system's memory through legitimate application interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6699 extends significantly beyond immediate information disclosure, creating potential pathways for more severe compromise scenarios within enterprise environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed. Organizations running vulnerable versions of these applications face substantial risk of data breaches, especially in sectors handling sensitive information such as financial services, healthcare, or government agencies. The vulnerability's presence in both Acrobat and Reader products means that even documents viewed by end users can serve as attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open external documents. Security analysts note that this vulnerability can be particularly challenging to detect and remediate due to its indirect nature and the fact that it requires specific conditions to be met for exploitation. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires social engineering to deliver malicious pdf documents, but once triggered, it can provide attackers with persistent access to sensitive information within the compromised system's memory space. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that includes other memory corruption vulnerabilities in Adobe's products, requiring comprehensive patch management and security monitoring strategies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6699 primarily focus on immediate software patching and application hardening measures. Adobe released security updates for all affected versions, including 10.1.16, 11.0.13, and specific DC versions, which address the memory handling issues in the addForegroundSprite function. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems, particularly those handling sensitive data or operating in high-risk environments. Additional mitigations include implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Adobe Reader and Acrobat in potentially untrusted environments, disabling the use of the affected function through configuration settings, and deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious pdf document behavior. Network-based mitigations such as sandboxing pdf processing and implementing web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. From a compliance perspective, organizations should document their remediation efforts and monitor for any continued attempts to exploit this vulnerability, as attackers may attempt to leverage it in conjunction with other vulnerabilities or through advanced persistent threat campaigns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered security approaches to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to significant information disclosure incidents.