CVE-2015-6705 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 bypass intended access restrictions and obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5583, CVE-2015-6706, and CVE-2015-7624.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2024
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, representing a critical access control flaw that allows attackers to bypass intended security restrictions. The vulnerability exists in versions 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, as well as in the DC Classic and DC Continuous editions before their respective patch levels. The flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive information through unspecified attack vectors that differ from other contemporaneous vulnerabilities in the same vulnerability family. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of access control bypass, which is particularly dangerous as it undermines the fundamental security model of the applications. The vulnerability affects both Windows and OS X operating systems, indicating a widespread impact across different platforms. The security implications are significant because it allows attackers to obtain sensitive information that should normally be restricted to authorized users only.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a weakness in the access control mechanisms implemented within Adobe's document processing libraries. While the specific vector remains unspecified in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities typically stem from improper validation of user permissions, flawed privilege checking routines, or inadequate sandboxing controls. The fact that this vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2015-5583, CVE-2015-6706, and CVE-2015-7624 suggests it operates through different code paths or mechanisms within the software architecture. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where the applications do not properly enforce access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized information disclosure. This type of flaw often manifests when applications fail to properly validate the security context of operations or when they rely on insufficiently protected checks for access control decisions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1566 (Phishing) when considering how attackers might leverage such weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to obtain sensitive information that may include confidential documents, user credentials, or other protected data. The ability to bypass access restrictions means that unauthorized individuals can potentially access restricted content without proper authentication or authorization. This vulnerability could be exploited in targeted attacks against organizations where Adobe Reader or Acrobat is used to process sensitive documents, potentially leading to data breaches or intellectual property theft. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where document security is paramount, as it could allow attackers to access classified information or proprietary data. The vulnerability also represents a risk to user privacy, as it could enable unauthorized access to personal documents or sensitive communications that users expect to be protected. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain access to information that may be used for further attacks or to cause reputational damage to organizations.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches for Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions mentioned in the vulnerability description. The patches address the access control bypass issue and restore proper enforcement of access restrictions. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems, particularly those handling sensitive or confidential information. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to systems running Adobe Reader or Acrobat, disabling unnecessary features or plugins that may increase attack surface, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns or unauthorized information disclosure attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how access control flaws can have significant operational consequences. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and implement appropriate controls to reduce risk exposure. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar access control weaknesses in other applications and systems. The incident underscores the critical need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include timely patch deployment and continuous monitoring for security issues.