CVE-2016-1075 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-2016-1055, 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-2016-1094, 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
This use-after-free vulnerability exists in Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, representing a critical memory safety issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw occurs when the software handles certain malformed or specially crafted input data, leading to a situation where memory previously allocated to an object is accessed after that memory has been freed and potentially reallocated for other purposes. This specific vulnerability affects Windows and macOS operating systems and is distinct from numerous other related vulnerabilities identified in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path or implementation error within the affected applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. This weakness represents a fundamental memory management error where program code continues to reference memory locations that have already been deallocated, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability's exploitation potential stems from the fact that attackers can craft malicious input that triggers the use-after-free condition, potentially allowing them to overwrite memory contents with malicious code or redirect execution to arbitrary code locations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed. Attackers can leverage this flaw through various attack vectors including malicious PDF files delivered via email, web downloads, or compromised websites. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution issue means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within networks. The fact that this affects both classic and continuous versions of Adobe Acrobat DC indicates the vulnerability spans multiple product lines and release cycles.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given Adobe Reader's widespread installation base and its role in processing PDF documents across various industries. Organizations using these applications are at risk of targeted attacks where adversaries craft malicious PDF files designed to trigger the use-after-free condition upon document rendering. Security teams must consider the implications of this vulnerability in their threat modeling exercises, as it can serve as an initial access vector for more sophisticated attack campaigns. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and macOS environments means that security measures must be implemented across multiple platforms, complicating mitigation efforts.
Effective mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions, with particular attention to the specific version ranges mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted PDF files and implementing least privilege principles for Adobe Reader usage can provide additional defense layers. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous PDF processing activities and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a critical issue means that organizations should treat this as a high-priority remediation task and consider implementing temporary workarounds while permanent patches are deployed.