CVE-2016-1127 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-2016-1125, CVE-2016-1126, 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 who handle PDF documents. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exists in widely deployed software applications that process PDF files, which are commonly used in business environments for document sharing and collaboration. The affected versions include Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, as well as specific versions of Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous, making it a broad impact vulnerability affecting numerous installations. This memory corruption vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the software's input validation and memory management mechanisms, where improper handling of PDF file structures can lead to unpredictable behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that occurs when processing specific PDF file structures or embedded content. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened in vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger memory corruption conditions. This typically happens through improper bounds checking or memory allocation handling when parsing PDF elements such as embedded objects, streams, or complex data structures. The vulnerability does not appear to be related to other known CVEs in the same timeframe, indicating it represents a distinct code path or parsing mechanism within the Adobe PDF processing engine. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or heap corruption scenarios that ultimately allow attackers to execute code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122 category of Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which are common attack vectors in software security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations that rely heavily on PDF document processing and sharing. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through social engineering techniques by sending malicious PDF attachments via email or hosting them on compromised websites. When victims open these crafted PDF files, the memory corruption leads to arbitrary code execution, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control of the victim's system. This could result in data theft, system compromise, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability affects both Windows and macOS operating systems, expanding the potential attack surface significantly. Organizations with extensive PDF usage patterns, such as financial institutions, government agencies, and legal firms, face heightened risk due to the prevalence of PDF document exchange in their workflows. The vulnerability's potential for denial of service also means that attackers could disrupt business operations by causing applications to crash or become unresponsive, leading to productivity losses and potential service interruptions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates and administrative controls. The primary and most effective mitigation is to update to patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically versions 11.0.16 and later for traditional Acrobat products, and the corresponding patched versions for Acrobat Reader DC. Organizations should implement automated patch management systems to ensure all endpoints receive updates promptly. Network-based mitigations can include PDF file scanning and filtering at network boundaries, preventing potentially malicious PDF files from entering the network. Security awareness training for users should emphasize the importance of not opening unexpected PDF attachments, particularly from unknown senders. Administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Adobe Reader and Acrobat only from trusted sources. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping critical software updated, as it represents a known flaw that was addressed through vendor patches. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for PDF processing and monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, making it a critical target for defensive security measures.