CVE-2016-1125 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-2016-1118, CVE-2016-1119, CVE-2016-1120, CVE-2016-1123, CVE-2016-1124, 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
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread use and the complex nature of their PDF parsing engines. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-1125 represents a memory corruption flaw that affects multiple versions of Adobe's desktop applications across both Windows and macOS platforms. The vulnerability exists within the core processing mechanisms of these applications, specifically in how they handle certain PDF file structures and embedded content. Unlike other vulnerabilities in the same timeframe that were addressed through different exploitation vectors, CVE-2016-1125 operates through unspecified but critical pathways that can lead to arbitrary code execution or complete system denial of service. The memory corruption aspect of this flaw means that attackers can manipulate the application's heap management or stack operations to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system compromise. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects both legacy and newer versions of Adobe's software, including the widely used DC Classic and DC Continuous editions, making it a persistent threat across multiple deployment scenarios. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation as it can be leveraged in combination with other attack techniques to create more sophisticated threats. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would fall under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or potentially CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow conditions, depending on the specific memory corruption pattern. The attack surface is broad given that PDF files are commonly shared through email attachments, web downloads, and document sharing platforms, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. Organizations utilizing these applications face significant risk as the vulnerability can be triggered simply by opening a maliciously crafted PDF file, without requiring any additional user interaction beyond normal document opening procedures. The exploitability of this vulnerability is further amplified by the fact that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are frequently installed on user endpoints, creating numerous potential entry points for attackers. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability also presents challenges for traditional security controls, as it may bypass standard sandboxing mechanisms that rely on behavioral analysis rather than static code inspection. Given the scope of affected products, security teams must consider comprehensive patch management strategies that account for both legacy and modern Adobe applications, as well as ensure that users are not inadvertently exposed to malicious content through legitimate business processes involving document sharing and collaboration. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple software versions underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defensive measures including email filtering, web proxy controls, and endpoint detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts before they can succeed.