CVE-2015-6706 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-2015-6705, 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 enables unauthorized information disclosure. The issue manifests in versions 10.x prior to 10.1.16 and 11.x prior to 11.0.13, as well as specific DC Classic and DC Continuous releases, impacting both Windows and macOS operating systems. Unlike related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-5583, CVE-2015-6705, and CVE-2015-7624, this flaw operates through distinct attack vectors that specifically target the applications' access restriction mechanisms. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass intended security controls and obtain sensitive information that should otherwise be protected, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on these document processing applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation within Adobe's document processing framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access restricted resources or data that should be protected by the application's security model. This typically involves manipulating the application's permission system or exploiting flaws in how access controls are enforced when processing PDF documents. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be triggered through various means including malformed document structures, specific embedded content, or particular processing sequences that cause the application to incorrectly evaluate access permissions. This type of flaw falls under the broader category of access control vulnerabilities classified as CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to access protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploits. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face risks including unauthorized access to confidential documents, sensitive data exposure, and potential privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous DC versions indicates a widespread issue affecting multiple product lines and update channels. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain access to protected documents, internal company information, or personal data that should remain restricted. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where these applications are commonly used for processing sensitive business documents, contracts, or confidential communications, making this vulnerability a significant concern for information security teams.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to the affected versions, with administrators prioritizing updates to Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.1.16, 11.0.13, and the corresponding DC releases. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline configurations that minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 emphasizes the need for proper access control reviews and security testing of document processing applications. Security teams should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as sandboxing document processing environments, restricting user permissions, and deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous behavior associated with access control bypass attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would map to privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, requiring organizations to maintain comprehensive threat detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of document processing applications and adherence to secure configuration guidelines should be implemented as ongoing measures to prevent exploitation of similar access control vulnerabilities.