CVE-2016-1049 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability 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, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1045, CVE-2016-1046, CVE-2016-1047, CVE-2016-1048, CVE-2016-1050, CVE-2016-1051, CVE-2016-1052, CVE-2016-1053, CVE-2016-1054, CVE-2016-1055, CVE-2016-1056, CVE-2016-1057, CVE-2016-1058, CVE-2016-1059, CVE-2016-1060, CVE-2016-1061, CVE-2016-1065, CVE-2016-1066, CVE-2016-1067, CVE-2016-1068, CVE-2016-1069, CVE-2016-1070, CVE-2016-1075, CVE-2016-1094, CVE-2016-1121, CVE-2016-1122, CVE-2016-4102, and CVE-2016-4107.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1049 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions and operating systems. This security weakness specifically impacts Windows and macOS platforms where the affected software fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation processes. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to exploit a scenario where memory previously allocated to an object is accessed after it has been freed, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. Unlike other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe such as CVE-2016-1045 through CVE-2016-1075, this particular flaw exhibits distinct characteristics in its exploitation vectors and attack surface, making it a unique target for cyber adversaries seeking to compromise systems running vulnerable Adobe applications.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe's PDF processing engine. When parsing maliciously crafted PDF documents, the software allocates memory for various objects including graphics elements, text structures, and embedded content. However, under certain conditions, the application fails to properly invalidate references to these objects before deallocating their memory space. This creates a window of opportunity where attackers can manipulate the memory layout to overwrite critical data structures or function pointers, ultimately leading to code execution. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory safety and object lifecycle management, where the application's memory allocator does not adequately track object references, particularly when handling complex PDF structures with nested objects and embedded resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1049 extends beyond simple privilege escalation or denial of service scenarios, as it enables full system compromise through remote code execution. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable Adobe applications, trigger the memory corruption conditions necessary for exploitation. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is frequently used for document sharing and processing, as it can be leveraged through spear-phishing campaigns or web-based attacks. The attack surface is broad given the widespread deployment of Adobe Reader across various industries, making this vulnerability a prime target for nation-state actors and organized cybercriminal groups seeking persistent access to targeted networks. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires user interaction through opening a malicious document, making social engineering components essential for successful attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1049 focus on both immediate remediation and long-term defensive measures. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations, particularly targeting versions prior to 11.0.16 for Reader and Acrobat, and 15.006.30172 for DC Classic, along with 15.016.20039 for DC Continuous. System administrators should implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions to reduce the risk of exploitation even when patches are not immediately available. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious PDF attachments and verifying document sources before opening. From a defensive perspective, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting Adobe Reader's capabilities through security policies can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) while mapping to CWE-416 (Use After Free) as the underlying weakness. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on memory corruption indicators and unexpected process behaviors that could signal successful exploitation of this vulnerability.