CVE-2016-1083 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-2016-1080, CVE-2016-1081, CVE-2016-1082, 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
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of PDF processing. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's flagship document viewers across both Windows and macOS operating systems, creating a substantial attack surface that extends beyond the typical user base. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions, representing a critical security weakness in the application's memory management mechanisms.
The vulnerability stems from unspecified vectors within the PDF parsing and rendering engine, which suggests that multiple attack paths could potentially be exploited. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise when applications fail to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation during processing of malformed or specially crafted PDF files. This particular weakness allows attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that can bypass standard security protections and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability is distinct from numerous other related issues, indicating that it represents a unique code path within Adobe's PDF processing implementation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations that rely heavily on PDF document sharing and viewing. Attackers could craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, would trigger the memory corruption and provide remote code execution capabilities. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially compromise entire networks, especially in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently exchanged and opened by multiple users. The memory corruption nature also means that even successful exploitation for denial of service could be leveraged in combination with other attacks to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions, including Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 11.0.16, as well as the specific DC Classic and DC Continuous versions mentioned. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure compatibility with existing workflows. Additional defensive measures such as PDF sandboxing, restricted file access permissions, and network-based protections like web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious PDF file activity and consider implementing automated threat hunting for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that PDF files are commonly used in phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks, making this vulnerability especially dangerous in targeted threat environments.