CVE-2016-4191 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.17, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30198, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.017.20050 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-2016-4192, CVE-2016-4193, CVE-2016-4194, CVE-2016-4195, CVE-2016-4196, CVE-2016-4197, CVE-2016-4198, CVE-2016-4199, CVE-2016-4200, CVE-2016-4201, CVE-2016-4202, CVE-2016-4203, CVE-2016-4204, CVE-2016-4205, CVE-2016-4206, CVE-2016-4207, CVE-2016-4208, CVE-2016-4211, CVE-2016-4212, CVE-2016-4213, CVE-2016-4214, CVE-2016-4250, CVE-2016-4251, CVE-2016-4252, and CVE-2016-4254.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread deployment and the rich functionality they provide for document processing. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's flagship software across different platforms including Windows and macOS operating systems. The flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions. Security researchers have identified this as a distinct vulnerability from a series of related issues, emphasizing that attackers can leverage unspecified vectors to compromise systems running affected software versions. The memory corruption nature of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns found in software exploitation, where improper memory handling can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential privilege escalation. The affected versions span across both legacy and newer releases, indicating that this vulnerability has persisted across multiple product iterations and represents a significant security gap in Adobe's document processing capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how memory corruption flaws can be weaponized in modern attack scenarios. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes maliciously crafted documents, the software's memory management routines fail to properly validate input data, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper handling of user-supplied data within the document parsing engine. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the application's processing pipeline could be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may be reachable through various document formats or processing paths. Memory corruption vulnerabilities of this nature are commonly categorized under CWE-122 and CWE-125, which focus on buffer overflow conditions and improper handling of memory boundaries. The attack surface is further extended by the cross-platform nature of the vulnerability, as both Windows and macOS implementations contain the same underlying flaw, requiring consistent security updates across all supported operating systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass broader security implications for enterprise environments and individual users. Organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Reader for document processing face significant risks when systems run vulnerable versions, as these systems become potential entry points for sophisticated attackers. The ability to execute arbitrary code means that attackers could gain full system control, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, or deployment of additional malware. Additionally, the denial of service component of this vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt business operations by causing applications to crash or become unresponsive, affecting productivity and service availability. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a high-value target due to the prevalence of Adobe Reader installations and the relatively straightforward exploitation methods that can be employed. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple product versions also means that organizations may have extended periods where they remain exposed without proper patching, creating opportunities for targeted attacks against specific sectors or organizations.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures by updating to the latest versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat that contain fixes for this vulnerability. The patching process should include all affected versions across both legacy and continuous delivery models, ensuring that systems running the classic and continuous versions receive appropriate updates. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of vulnerable software versions. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and prioritize patching efforts based on risk exposure. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and code injection, making it a critical target for defensive security operations. Regular security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted documents and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software. Given the vulnerability's potential for remote code execution, network segmentation and endpoint protection measures should be enhanced to provide layered defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce the window of exposure for similar vulnerabilities.