CVE-2016-1080 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-2016-1071, CVE-2016-1072, CVE-2016-1073, CVE-2016-1074, CVE-2016-1076, CVE-2016-1077, CVE-2016-1078, 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 • 10/21/2024
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, representing a critical memory corruption issue that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The flaw exists in the handling of unspecified input vectors within the PDF processing engine, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through various attack vectors without specific details provided in the CVE description. The vulnerability impacts both Windows and macOS platforms, demonstrating the cross-platform nature of the underlying memory management flaw. This issue is distinct from numerous other CVEs in the same year, indicating a unique code path or memory handling pattern that differentiates it from previously discovered vulnerabilities. The memory corruption nature suggests that attackers can manipulate heap or stack memory through malformed PDF content, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the running application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory handling during PDF document parsing, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data structures. When processing maliciously crafted PDF files, the application's memory management routines encounter unexpected data patterns that cause memory corruption, leading to potential exploitation. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate bounds checking or improper memory allocation/deallocation sequences. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The memory corruption can manifest as stack smashing, heap corruption, or other memory management failures that may allow attackers to overwrite critical program memory locations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious PDF files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures, especially in environments where PDF documents are frequently opened or processed. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without user interaction in certain scenarios, or through social engineering tactics that trick users into opening malicious documents. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe products face a high probability of successful exploitation, making immediate remediation essential for maintaining security posture.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves deploying the latest security updates from Adobe, which typically include memory validation improvements and enhanced input sanitization routines. System administrators should implement network-based controls such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening PDF files from trusted sources and avoiding suspicious email attachments. Security monitoring should include detection of potential exploitation attempts through unusual memory access patterns or process behavior anomalies. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to T1203 for Exploitation for Execution, with potential lateral movement capabilities through successful code execution. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent memory corruption exploits, particularly those targeting Adobe applications. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure proper remediation and to identify any potential bypass techniques that attackers might employ.