CVE-2016-1116 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-2016-1083, CVE-2016-1084, CVE-2016-1085, CVE-2016-1086, CVE-2016-1088, CVE-2016-1093, CVE-2016-1095, 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 • 10/22/2024
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, creating a significant security risk for users on both Windows and macOS platforms. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. Unlike other CVEs in the same timeframe, CVE-2016-1116 represents a distinct vulnerability vector that requires careful analysis of the underlying memory management mechanisms within Adobe's PDF processing libraries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through unspecified vectors, making it difficult for security professionals to predict or defend against specific exploitation techniques without comprehensive analysis of the affected code paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Adobe's PDF parsing and rendering components. When processing specially crafted PDF documents, the application fails to properly validate memory allocations and deallocations, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. These memory corruption issues can be leveraged by attackers to inject malicious code into the application's memory space or force the application to crash through controlled memory access violations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The memory corruption patterns typically involve improper bounds checking during PDF object processing, particularly when handling complex embedded content or malformed PDF structures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected version of the software, trigger the memory corruption conditions. The attack surface is broad since PDF documents are commonly shared via email, web downloads, and document management systems, making successful exploitation likely in targeted campaigns. The vulnerability can result in complete system compromise when attackers successfully execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, or persistent backdoor installation. Additionally, the denial of service component can be used for disruption attacks, particularly in environments where document processing is critical for business operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves updating to patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically versions 11.0.16 and later for the classic versions, and 15.006.30172 and later for the DC versions. Security administrators should also consider implementing PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the risk of exploitation. Network-based defenses can include PDF file inspection and blocking malicious content at network perimeters. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious PDF file access patterns and implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive timely updates.