CVE-2016-1043 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1043 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions and operating systems. This vulnerability exists within the core processing mechanisms of these document viewers, specifically impacting versions prior to 11.0.16 for traditional Acrobat and Reader installations, as well as earlier versions of the DC Classic and Continuous editions. The flaw manifests in the handling of integer values during document processing operations, creating potential execution paths that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized code execution privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. When processing certain malformed PDF documents, the software fails to properly validate integer values, allowing attackers to manipulate input data that gets processed through integer arithmetic operations. This overflow condition can cause the application to allocate insufficient memory buffers or perform invalid memory operations, ultimately enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the running application. The vulnerability operates at the boundary between legitimate document processing and malicious input manipulation, where standard input validation fails to prevent the overflow scenario.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1043 extends significantly across enterprise and individual user environments, particularly given the widespread adoption of Adobe Reader and Acrobat products. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting specially designed PDF files that trigger the integer overflow when opened or processed by vulnerable software versions. The execution of arbitrary code through this vector provides attackers with complete control over the affected system, potentially enabling privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further network infiltration activities. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and OS X environments creates a broad attack surface that security professionals must address across different operating system platforms. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and CWE-190 for integer overflow, demonstrating how improper integer handling can lead to severe security consequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1043 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe, along with network-based security controls. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to the patched versions mentioned in the CVE details, which include 11.0.16 and subsequent releases for traditional versions, and 15.006.30172 and 15.016.20039 for DC editions. Additional protective measures include implementing PDF file filtering at network perimeters, disabling automatic execution of embedded content, and employing sandboxing technologies to isolate document processing activities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual PDF file processing patterns or attempts to open suspicious documents, while network segmentation can help limit the potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular patch management and proper input validation in preventing memory corruption exploits that can lead to complete system compromise.