CVE-2016-4101 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-2016-4100, CVE-2016-4103, CVE-2016-4104, and CVE-2016-4105.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability resides in the handling of unspecified vectors within the software's processing mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors without specific details being disclosed. The affected versions include Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, as well as Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172 and DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on both Windows and OS X platforms. This memory corruption issue falls under the category of software vulnerabilities that can be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe's PDF processing libraries, where input data is not adequately validated before being processed. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger memory corruption conditions. These conditions can manifest as heap corruption, stack overflow, or other memory management errors that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at a low level within the application's memory management system, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures. According to CWE standards, this represents a memory corruption vulnerability classified under CWE-122, which deals with heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific manifestation in this case involves more complex memory corruption patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to include significant security and business implications for organizations relying on Adobe products. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within target systems. The memory corruption can also lead to application crashes or complete system instability, resulting in denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat face potential compromise of their document processing workflows, as users may unknowingly open malicious documents that trigger the vulnerability. The attack surface is broad since PDF files are commonly shared through email, web downloads, and file transfer systems, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. This aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques categorized under T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), as attackers can use the vulnerability to execute malicious code and establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected Adobe products to the latest versions that address the memory corruption issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all systems running Adobe Reader or Acrobat are updated promptly. Additionally, security controls such as sandboxing PDF processing, implementing strict email filtering, and using PDF analysis tools can provide additional layers of protection. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious PDF file activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling PDF viewing capabilities in web browsers where possible, as this reduces the attack surface for exploitation. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify any remaining exposure points, while user education programs can help prevent accidental opening of malicious PDF files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated exploitation techniques that target fundamental application components.