CVE-2016-1055 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-2016-1054, 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 • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1055 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions. This vulnerability specifically impacts Windows and macOS operating systems, creating a significant security risk for users who rely on Adobe's document processing software. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through unspecified vectors, making it particularly dangerous as the attack surface remains broadly defined and difficult to predict. Unlike other vulnerabilities in the same year, CVE-2016-1055 operates independently and requires separate exploitation techniques from the numerous related vulnerabilities that were simultaneously being addressed. The use-after-free condition occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate program execution flow and potentially gain unauthorized system access. This particular vulnerability exists within Adobe's document parsing mechanisms, where improper memory management during processing of specially crafted PDF files can lead to exploitable conditions.
The technical nature of CVE-2016-1055 aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition. This weakness typically manifests when applications fail to properly track memory allocation and deallocation cycles, allowing attackers to corrupt memory structures and redirect program execution. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within Adobe's PDF processing engine, where memory management routines are not adequately protecting against reuse of freed memory blocks. Attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger the use-after-free condition during normal document processing operations. The exploitation process typically involves preparing a PDF file containing crafted objects that, when parsed by the vulnerable software, cause memory to be freed while still being referenced by subsequent processing operations. This memory corruption can then be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1055 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass significant enterprise security risks. Organizations utilizing Adobe Reader and Acrobat products face potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information when exposed to this vulnerability. The broad scope of affected versions means that many organizations may have legacy systems running vulnerable software, creating extended attack windows for threat actors. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat products indicates that the flaw exists across different software distribution models, complicating remediation efforts. Security teams must consider not only patch management but also the potential for zero-day exploitation of this vulnerability in environments where updates have not been applied. The risk assessment for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that PDF files are commonly used in business communications, making the attack vector highly accessible and difficult to control through traditional network security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1055 should focus on immediate patch application and enhanced security monitoring. Organizations must prioritize updating to Adobe's patched versions, specifically targeting Adobe Acrobat and Reader DC versions 15.006.30172 and 15.016.20039 respectively, along with the corresponding classic version 11.0.16. The implementation of Adobe's security patches represents the most effective defense against exploitation of this vulnerability, as these updates address the underlying memory management flaws that enable the use-after-free condition. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as PDF file filtering, sandboxing mechanisms, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious PDF file handling activities. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and script interpreter execution highlights the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures that can detect and prevent malicious code execution attempts. Organizations should also consider deploying email filtering solutions that can identify and block potentially malicious PDF attachments, as these represent one of the primary attack vectors for this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all systems utilizing Adobe products remain patched and secure against this and similar threats.