CVE-2016-4193 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-2016-4191, CVE-2016-4192, 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 attackers due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of their PDF parsing capabilities. This particular vulnerability exists within multiple versions of Adobe's desktop and mobile software applications, specifically affecting versions prior to 11.0.17 for traditional Acrobat and Reader installations, and versions before 15.006.30198 for DC Classic, and before 15.017.20050 for DC Continuous across both Windows and macOS operating systems. The vulnerability represents a memory corruption issue that can be exploited through unspecified attack vectors, distinguishing it from a series of related vulnerabilities that were simultaneously being addressed in the same security bulletin.
The technical flaw manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability that occurs during the processing of maliciously crafted PDF documents. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems or cause denial of service conditions through memory corruption. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management within the PDF parser component of Adobe's software. The memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, heap corruption, or potentially full system compromise depending on the execution context and attack surface. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals who must defend against various attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing and sharing. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by a vulnerable user, will trigger the memory corruption and potentially lead to complete system compromise. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where users may encounter such documents through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. The vulnerability's presence in both traditional and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat DC means that organizations using either deployment model are at risk, requiring immediate patching across all affected software versions to maintain security posture. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability also means that even if exploitation is not immediately successful, the instability it introduces can lead to persistent denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, specifically versions 11.0.17 and later for traditional installations, and 15.006.30198 for DC Classic and 15.017.20050 for DC Continuous. Security teams should also implement additional protective measures including PDF file scanning, sandboxing of PDF documents, and user education regarding suspicious email attachments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow conditions, depending on the specific exploitation mechanism. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving initial access through malicious documents and privilege escalation through code execution, potentially leading to lateral movement within compromised networks. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious PDF-related traffic patterns and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.