CVE-2016-1118 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-2016-1116, 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, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability exists in the parsing of specific file formats within the Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications, particularly when processing malformed input data. The flaw manifests as an unspecified vector that differs from numerous other reported vulnerabilities in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path within the application's handling of PDF documents or related file structures. Security researchers identified this issue through extensive analysis of memory management routines and input validation mechanisms within the Adobe Acrobat runtime environment. The vulnerability impacts both Windows and macOS operating systems, suggesting a cross-platform nature in the underlying code that processes PDF content. According to industry standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which occurs when a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, and potentially CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, when data is written beyond the bounds of allocated memory. The exploitation of this vulnerability can be categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter - Visual Basic, where attackers may leverage the memory corruption to execute arbitrary commands through crafted malicious documents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable full system compromise when exploited by malicious actors. Attackers can craft specially designed PDF files that trigger the memory corruption during document parsing, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the affected Adobe application. This presents a significant risk in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious documents through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy and newer versions of Adobe Acrobat products means that organizations must carefully assess their software inventory to identify affected systems. The specific nature of the vulnerability suggests that it may be triggered through various document elements such as embedded objects, JavaScript code, or specific font handling routines within PDF files. The memory corruption aspect indicates that attackers can manipulate heap memory structures to either execute malicious code or cause application crashes that can be leveraged for further exploitation techniques. Organizations deploying these vulnerable applications face potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch management and application hardening measures. Adobe released security updates addressing this issue in versions 11.0.16, 15.006.30172, and 15.016.20039 respectively, which should be deployed across all affected systems immediately. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files and consider sandboxing mechanisms for PDF processing. Network-based mitigations include implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end-user systems. Security teams should also deploy endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious behavior patterns associated with memory corruption exploits. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories indicates that defensive programming practices such as bounds checking, memory initialization, and proper input validation should be enforced throughout the application lifecycle. Additionally, users should be trained to avoid opening PDF files from untrusted sources and to maintain current security patches on all software components. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and least privilege access controls to minimize the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The ATT&CK framework suggests that defenders should monitor for indicators of compromise related to process injection techniques and anomalous memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.