CVE-2015-6703 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
The loadFlashMovie 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-2015-6699, CVE-2015-6700, CVE-2015-6701, CVE-2015-6702, and CVE-2015-6704.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6703 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Adobe Reader and Acrobat products that affects multiple versions across different platforms. This vulnerability specifically resides within the loadFlashMovie function, which is responsible for handling flash movie loading operations within the PDF viewer environment. The flaw manifests when the function processes invalid arguments, creating a scenario where attackers can extract sensitive data from the process memory space. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-6697 through CVE-2015-6704, this particular issue presents a distinct attack vector that leverages improper argument handling rather than other exploitation techniques. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Adobe products including Acrobat 10.x versions prior to 10.1.16, Acrobat 11.x versions before 11.0.13, and various versions of the Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous editions released before specific patch levels.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure through memory corruption, which aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and potentially CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw occurs when the loadFlashMovie function fails to properly validate input parameters, allowing attackers to craft malicious arguments that cause the application to leak memory contents. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can expose sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential data that resides in the application's memory space. The attack typically involves crafting specially formatted arguments that trigger the function to access memory locations beyond its intended boundaries, resulting in data leakage that can be captured by the attacker. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of the ATT&CK framework as it maps to T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic) and T1005 (Data from Local System) techniques, where adversaries can leverage such information disclosure vulnerabilities to gather intelligence about the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6703 extends beyond simple information leakage, as the sensitive data exposed through this vulnerability can be exploited to facilitate more sophisticated attacks. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can obtain process memory contents that may include user session data, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information that could be used for privilege escalation or further compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and OS X operating systems indicates a cross-platform threat that requires attention across different environments. Organizations using affected Adobe products face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious PDF files, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened. The memory disclosure aspect of this vulnerability can provide attackers with enough information to craft more targeted attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6703 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the specific memory handling issues within the loadFlashMovie function. Adobe released updates for all affected versions, and organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches to eliminate the vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict PDF file validation policies, disabling Flash content execution within PDF documents, and employing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious PDF file content. Security teams should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other Adobe products and third-party applications, as this type of memory corruption vulnerability is often indicative of broader security weaknesses that require comprehensive remediation strategies.