CVE-2016-4093 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-2016-4089, CVE-2016-4090, 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 • 10/23/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread use in document processing and their complex codebases that present numerous potential attack surfaces. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-4093 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple versions of Adobe's flagship PDF processing applications across both Windows and macOS operating systems. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through unspecified attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as the exact mechanisms of exploitation remain undisclosed. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as those listed in the description, CVE-2016-4093 operates through distinct exploitation pathways that leverage memory handling weaknesses within the application's PDF parsing capabilities. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog under weakness categories related to memory safety issues and buffer overflows. This flaw specifically impacts Adobe Reader versions prior to 11.0.16, and Acrobat products including the Classic and Continuous editions of Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC, with specific version thresholds of 15.006.30172 and 15.016.20039 respectively. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution makes it particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users frequently encounter PDF documents from untrusted sources. Attackers can potentially craft malicious PDF files that trigger this memory corruption when opened by vulnerable applications, leading to complete system compromise or service disruption. The attack surface is particularly broad given Adobe Reader's ubiquity across business and personal computing environments, where it serves as the default PDF viewer for countless organizations and individuals. Security researchers have identified that exploitation of this vulnerability typically occurs through malformed PDF structures that cause the application to improperly handle memory allocation and deallocation during document processing. The nature of this flaw suggests it may involve improper bounds checking or use-after-free conditions that are commonly classified under ATT&CK tactics related to privilege escalation and execution. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe products face significant risk exposure, as these vulnerabilities can be leveraged for advanced persistent threat campaigns or mass exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of software security flaws that require careful patch management and application hardening practices. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for widely used software applications and demonstrates how legacy software components can remain attractive targets for cybercriminals. The lack of specific details regarding the exploitation vectors in the CVE description is typical for such vulnerabilities, as security researchers often withhold precise technical details until patches are widely deployed to prevent exploitation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2016-4093, particularly given the potential for remote code execution and the broad range of affected products. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise security postures and highlights the ongoing challenge of securing complex software applications that process untrusted data. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all systems running vulnerable Adobe products are updated promptly to prevent unauthorized access or service disruption.