CVE-2016-1041 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to bypass JavaScript API execution restrictions via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1038, CVE-2016-1039, CVE-2016-1040, CVE-2016-1042, CVE-2016-1044, CVE-2016-1062, and CVE-2016-1117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2022
This vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat products represents a critical sandbox escape flaw that undermines the fundamental security model designed to isolate potentially malicious JavaScript code execution. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions including legacy Acrobat 11.0.15 and earlier, as well as various versions of the DC Classic and DC Continuous editions, specifically those prior to the mentioned patch levels on both Windows and macOS platforms. The flaw allows attackers to bypass JavaScript API execution restrictions that are intended to prevent malicious code from accessing sensitive system functions, thereby undermining the security boundaries that protect users from potentially harmful document content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the JavaScript engine that processes PDF documents. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat encounters JavaScript within a PDF, it normally enforces strict API access controls that prevent the execution of dangerous operations such as file system access, network communication, or system command execution. However, this particular flaw enables attackers to craft malicious PDF documents that can circumvent these controls through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability is classified as a sandbox escape because it allows code to break out of the restricted JavaScript environment and access functionality that should remain unavailable to untrusted script content. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it directly relates to the core security architecture of the application and can be exploited through standard PDF document delivery mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within enterprise and individual security environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on target systems with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable Adobe application. This capability enables a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and deployment of additional malware payloads. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects widely deployed software across multiple operating systems, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking broad exploitation capabilities. Organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing, including financial institutions, government agencies, and healthcare providers, face significant risk exposure from this vulnerability.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patch application and operational hardening measures. Adobe released security updates addressing this issue in the specified version releases, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems. Network-based defenses such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions can provide additional layers of protection while patches are being deployed. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the attack tree framework where sandbox escape vulnerabilities are categorized as critical threats that can be exploited through document-based attack vectors. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would likely trigger security controls related to patch management and application security monitoring, and organizations should implement robust tracking mechanisms to ensure complete remediation across their environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and the risks associated with running outdated software versions in enterprise environments.