CVE-2016-1089 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30243, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.020.20039 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1091, CVE-2016-6944, CVE-2016-6945, CVE-2016-6946, CVE-2016-6949, CVE-2016-6952, CVE-2016-6953, CVE-2016-6961, CVE-2016-6962, CVE-2016-6963, CVE-2016-6964, CVE-2016-6965, CVE-2016-6967, CVE-2016-6968, CVE-2016-6969, CVE-2016-6971, CVE-2016-6979, CVE-2016-6988, and CVE-2016-6993.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2022
The CVE-2016-1089 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions and operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the memory management mechanisms of Adobe's document processing software, specifically within the handling of objects that are freed from memory but subsequently accessed by malicious code. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly track object references, creating a window where freed memory locations can be reallocated and accessed by unauthorized code segments. Such memory corruption issues are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user, making them prime targets for sophisticated cyber attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic memory safety issue where the application's object lifecycle management contains a race condition or logic flaw that allows attackers to manipulate memory state during object deallocation. When the vulnerable application processes malicious PDF files, it may encounter specific object structures that trigger the use-after-free condition, potentially allowing an attacker to control the execution flow of the application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of "Use After Free" which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue in software development. The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful crafting of PDF content that can trigger the specific memory management flaw, typically involving complex object references and manipulation of memory structures that are not properly validated.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1089 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability affects both Windows and OS X platforms, indicating a widespread impact across different operating environments. Organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users regularly open untrusted PDF files. The attack surface is broad given the widespread deployment of these applications, with potential for exploitation through various delivery mechanisms including email attachments, web downloads, and malicious document sharing. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which describes the use of command and scripting interpreters, as successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution that may be used to establish further compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1089 primarily focus on immediate remediation through official Adobe patches and updates. Organizations should prioritize updating to Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 11.0.18, 15.006.30243, or 15.020.20039 respectively, depending on their product version. Beyond patching, defensive measures include implementing PDF content filtering, disabling JavaScript execution in Acrobat applications, and deploying network-based security controls that can detect and block malicious PDF files. Security teams should also consider application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized PDF processing applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular software updates and security monitoring as part of enterprise security posture management. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted PDF files remains crucial, as social engineering aspects often play a role in successful exploitation of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar memory safety issues in their software environments.