CVE-2016-1054 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-2016-1049, CVE-2016-1050, CVE-2016-1051, CVE-2016-1052, CVE-2016-1053, 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-2016-1054 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 environments where the affected software fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation processes. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have long plagued software applications, particularly those handling complex file formats and multimedia content. Adobe Reader and Acrobat's extensive use of scripting languages and object-oriented programming constructs creates numerous potential entry points for attackers seeking to exploit memory management deficiencies.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects that have already been freed but are subsequently accessed or referenced by malicious code. When an application allocates memory for an object and later frees it, but continues to reference that memory location, attackers can manipulate the freed memory to execute arbitrary code. This particular flaw operates through unspecified vectors, suggesting that the attack surface encompasses multiple potential exploitation pathways within the software's processing mechanisms. The vulnerability is distinct from several other related issues identified in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path that requires specific conditions to be exploited successfully.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1054 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. This capability aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to establish persistent access. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery versions of Acrobat and Reader indicates a widespread exposure across Adobe's product portfolio, affecting users who may have deployed different update channels. The memory corruption resulting from this flaw could potentially enable privilege escalation attacks, allowing attackers to execute code with elevated system privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations. Organizations should prioritize updating to Adobe Acrobat and Reader DC versions 15.006.30172 and 15.016.20039 respectively, or equivalent versions that address the memory management issues. Security administrators should implement network segmentation and application whitelisting policies to limit exposure while patches are deployed. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416, which addresses "Use After Free," highlights the fundamental nature of this flaw as a memory safety issue that requires comprehensive code review and remediation. Additionally, implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation techniques can provide defense-in-depth measures that limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.