CVE-2016-4089 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-2016-1127, CVE-2016-1128, CVE-2016-1129, CVE-2016-1130, CVE-2016-4088, 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 targets for cyber attacks due to their widespread use and the complex nature of PDF processing. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's document processing software across different platforms, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors. The vulnerability resides in the handling of unspecified vectors within the PDF parsing and rendering mechanisms, which can lead to memory corruption issues that may be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes. This flaw represents a critical security gap that has persisted across various product lines and release versions, highlighting the ongoing challenges in securing complex software applications that process untrusted data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues that occur during the processing of PDF documents, particularly when handling malformed or specially crafted input data. Attackers can leverage this weakness through carefully constructed PDF files that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors within the Adobe software. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack paths, making it more difficult to defend against comprehensively. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows or memory corruption issues, which are classified as CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) or similar memory management flaws. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for execution through command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may leverage these memory corruption flaws to execute malicious code within the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. When an attacker successfully exploits this memory corruption vulnerability, they can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the affected Adobe application, which often runs with elevated permissions when processing documents. This creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks and persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability affects both Windows and OS X platforms, indicating that the underlying memory corruption issue is not platform-specific but rather stems from the core PDF processing engine. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk, as PDF files are commonly used in phishing campaigns, supply chain attacks, and targeted intrusion attempts. The presence of multiple affected versions across different product lines also complicates remediation efforts, as administrators must ensure all installations are properly updated.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch management and application hardening measures. Organizations must prioritize updating to the patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically version 11.0.16 for legacy versions and the appropriate DC Classic and Continuous versions mentioned in the advisory. The patching process should be conducted systematically across all endpoints to ensure complete coverage, as incomplete patching can leave systems vulnerable to exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized Adobe software versions, deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate PDF processing, and configuring email security solutions to scan and block suspicious PDF attachments. Network-based defenses such as intrusion prevention systems can be configured to detect and block known exploit patterns associated with this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework recommends implementing multiple layers of defense including user education about avoiding suspicious PDF files, network segmentation to limit lateral movement, and regular security assessments to identify potentially unpatched systems. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Given the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities, regular system monitoring for unexpected crashes or unusual memory usage patterns can help identify exploitation attempts before they succeed in establishing persistent access.