CVE-2016-4100 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-2016-4093, CVE-2016-4094, CVE-2016-4096, CVE-2016-4097, CVE-2016-4098, CVE-2016-4099, 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 vulnerabilities represent critical security weaknesses that have persisted across multiple versions and platforms, with CVE-2016-4100 specifically targeting memory corruption issues in software versions prior to 11.0.16 for Acrobat and Reader, and versions before 15.006.30172 for DC Classic and 15.016.20039 for DC Continuous on both Windows and OS X operating systems. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Adobe products are widely deployed. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that attackers could exploit various attack surfaces within the application's memory management mechanisms, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions that could severely impact system integrity and availability.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2016-4100 manifests as memory corruption vulnerabilities that occur when Adobe Reader and Acrobat process maliciously crafted PDF files or other document formats. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient input validation and improper memory handling within the application's parsing routines, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed payloads. Such memory corruption issues are particularly dangerous because they can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully, as the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are frequently exploited in memory corruption attacks and have been extensively catalogued in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to memory injection and code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4100 extends far beyond individual system compromise, affecting entire enterprise networks and organizational security postures. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and persistent access within network environments. Organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing face significant risk exposure, as these applications are frequently used to open attachments and documents from untrusted sources, creating numerous potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat DC indicates that the memory corruption issues are deeply embedded within the application architecture, making remediation challenging and requiring comprehensive patch management strategies across multiple software variants. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability represents a sophisticated attack surface that could be leveraged in advanced persistent threat campaigns, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities in the same CVE family.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4100 should encompass both immediate patch deployment and long-term security architecture improvements to reduce overall risk exposure. Organizations must prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically ensuring that all systems are running versions 11.0.16 or later for classic versions, and 15.006.30172 for DC Classic and 15.016.20039 for DC Continuous. Additionally, implementing network-based security controls such as email filtering, web application firewalls, and content inspection systems can help prevent exploitation attempts by blocking malicious PDF files before they reach vulnerable systems. From a defensive perspective, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing technologies and application whitelisting policies to limit the execution of potentially malicious code, while also monitoring for anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly suitable for exploitation through phishing campaigns, where attackers craft malicious PDF attachments designed to exploit the memory corruption issues, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security awareness training and multi-layered defensive strategies that align with industry best practices and the MITRE ATT&CK framework's recommendations for defending against memory corruption attacks.