CVE-2015-6721 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
The CBSharedReviewSecurityDialog method 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 bypass JavaScript API execution restrictions via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6707, CVE-2015-6708, CVE-2015-6709, CVE-2015-6710, CVE-2015-6711, CVE-2015-6712, CVE-2015-6713, CVE-2015-6714, CVE-2015-6715, CVE-2015-6716, CVE-2015-6717, CVE-2015-6718, CVE-2015-6719, CVE-2015-6720, CVE-2015-6722, CVE-2015-6723, CVE-2015-6724, CVE-2015-6725, CVE-2015-7614, CVE-2015-7616, CVE-2015-7618, CVE-2015-7619, CVE-2015-7620, and CVE-2015-7623.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6721 represents a critical security flaw in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software versions that affects users across both Windows and macOS operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the CBSharedReviewSecurityDialog method within the Adobe Acrobat ecosystem, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent JavaScript API execution restrictions that are fundamental to the software's security architecture. The flaw operates as a privilege escalation mechanism that allows attackers to execute unauthorized code within the restricted JavaScript environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and security boundary enforcement within the shared review security dialog component. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the CVE description suggest that the attack surface encompasses multiple potential exploitation methods, likely involving crafted PDF documents or malicious JavaScript code that manipulates the dialog's behavior. This weakness aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, particularly in contexts where security boundaries are improperly enforced. The vulnerability's classification as a bypass mechanism indicates that it specifically targets the sandboxing features that Adobe implements to isolate potentially malicious JavaScript execution from the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6721 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to circumvent multiple layers of Adobe's security architecture. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code with elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to access sensitive system resources, read/write files, execute system commands, and ultimately gain full control over the affected system. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Adobe products including various versions of Acrobat Reader and Acrobat DC, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts users across different deployment scenarios and organizational environments. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into opening malicious PDF documents that contain the exploit code.
Organizations and security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including prompt application of Adobe's security patches and updates. The remediation process should involve comprehensive deployment of the latest security updates from Adobe, which address the specific JavaScript API execution restriction bypass. Additionally, network security measures such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions should be deployed to provide additional layers of protection. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution of malicious code within restricted environments, specifically addressing tactics such as privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities and execution through malicious document content. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with the broader category of attack patterns that target document readers and office productivity software, which are frequently targeted in enterprise security incidents due to their widespread use and inherent trust relationships within organizational networks.