CVE-2016-1071 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 execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1037, CVE-2016-1063, CVE-2016-1064, CVE-2016-1072, CVE-2016-1073, CVE-2016-1074, CVE-2016-1076, CVE-2016-1077, CVE-2016-1078, CVE-2016-1080, CVE-2016-1081, CVE-2016-1082, CVE-2016-1083, CVE-2016-1084, CVE-2016-1085, CVE-2016-1086, CVE-2016-1088, CVE-2016-1093, CVE-2016-1095, CVE-2016-1116, CVE-2016-1118, CVE-2016-1119, CVE-2016-1120, CVE-2016-1123, CVE-2016-1124, CVE-2016-1125, CVE-2016-1126, CVE-2016-1127, CVE-2016-1128, CVE-2016-1129, CVE-2016-1130, CVE-2016-4088, CVE-2016-4089, CVE-2016-4090, CVE-2016-4093, CVE-2016-4094, CVE-2016-4096, CVE-2016-4097, CVE-2016-4098, CVE-2016-4099, CVE-2016-4100, CVE-2016-4101, CVE-2016-4103, CVE-2016-4104, and CVE-2016-4105.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
This vulnerability resides within Adobe Reader and Acrobat software products, specifically affecting versions prior to 11.0.16 for traditional Acrobat products and before 15.006.30172 for DC Classic and 15.016.20039 for DC Continuous across Windows and macOS operating systems. The flaw represents a memory corruption issue that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions when processing specially crafted malicious content. Unlike other vulnerabilities in the same CVE family, this particular flaw involves distinct exploitation vectors that leverage memory handling weaknesses in the PDF processing engine.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption categories, typically manifesting as buffer overflows or heap corruption issues that occur when the software processes malformed PDF files. Attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that trigger these memory handling errors during document rendering or parsing operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple execution of arbitrary code to include potential system crashes and denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF processing is common. The memory corruption occurs within the core PDF parsing components of Adobe's software stack, specifically in how the application handles certain data structures and memory allocations during document processing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document handling and viewing. The exploitability of this flaw means that simply opening a malicious PDF file could result in complete system compromise without user interaction beyond the initial document opening. This characteristic aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and execution techniques, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to establish persistent access. The vulnerability's presence in both traditional and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat products means that organizations using either distribution model face identical risks, complicating mitigation efforts across different deployment scenarios.
Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to upgrade to Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 11.0.16 or later for traditional products, and 15.006.30172 for DC Classic and 15.016.20039 for DC Continuous. Additional mitigations include implementing PDF file scanning and sandboxing solutions, restricting PDF file handling to trusted sources only, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious PDF content. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, making it a critical concern for software security teams implementing defensive measures. Security teams should also consider disabling JavaScript execution in PDF documents as an additional protective layer, though this may impact legitimate document functionality. This vulnerability demonstrates the persistent threat landscape surrounding PDF processing engines and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software components in enterprise environments.