CVE-2016-0945 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.14, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30119, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.010.20056 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0931, CVE-2016-0933, CVE-2016-0936, CVE-2016-0938, CVE-2016-0939, CVE-2016-0942, CVE-2016-0944, and CVE-2016-0946.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 11.0.14, as well as Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30119 and DC Continuous before 15.010.20056 on both Windows and macOS platforms, contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw separate from multiple other CVEs published in the same advisory cycle, indicating a complex attack surface within Adobe's document processing components. The unspecified vector nature of the vulnerability suggests it may involve multiple potential attack paths within the PDF parsing and rendering engine, making it particularly challenging to defend against and requiring comprehensive patching strategies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Adobe's PDF processing libraries, where maliciously crafted PDF documents can trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios. These memory corruption issues typically occur when the application fails to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation during PDF document parsing operations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common precursors to remote code execution exploits. Attackers can leverage these conditions to manipulate memory contents, potentially executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0945 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. When attackers achieve remote code execution through this vulnerability, they gain the ability to install malware, modify system files, establish persistence mechanisms, and potentially escalate privileges to system-level access. The vulnerability affects widely deployed software across both enterprise and consumer environments, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk exposure, as PDF documents are commonly shared through email attachments, web downloads, and document management systems, providing numerous attack vectors for exploitation. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability also means that even if exploitation fails to achieve code execution, the application may crash or become unstable, resulting in denial of service that disrupts legitimate business operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations across the enterprise environment. Organizations should implement automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of Adobe's security updates, which address the underlying memory corruption issues through proper input validation and memory handling routines. Network-based defenses such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers, though these should not replace proper patching. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network connections or file modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the multi-stage nature of attacks that leverage such memory corruption flaws. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of Adobe product versions to prevent this and similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the environment.