CVE-2016-4198 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-2016-4193, CVE-2016-4194, CVE-2016-4195, CVE-2016-4196, CVE-2016-4197, 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 targeted by cyber adversaries due to their widespread use and the complex nature of PDF processing. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's document viewer software across different platforms, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is distinct from several other related issues identified in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path or memory handling mechanism that requires specific attention. This memory corruption vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the application's ability to safely process maliciously crafted PDF files, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems or disrupt normal operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures within Adobe's PDF parsing libraries. When processing certain PDF documents, the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for exploitation. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors are present in the code. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as attackers can potentially find various ways to trigger the memory corruption. The impact extends across both Windows and OS X operating systems, indicating that the underlying memory management issue is not platform-specific but rather resides in the core PDF processing components. This cross-platform nature increases the potential attack surface and makes the vulnerability more attractive to threat actors seeking to maximize their impact.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. This capability enables a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within networks. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability can also be weaponized to disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where PDF processing is critical for document workflows. Organizations may face significant downtime and productivity losses if this vulnerability is exploited in their environments. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous versions of Adobe Acrobat DC indicates that the issue affects different deployment models, potentially requiring multiple patching efforts across an organization's software ecosystem. This complexity in remediation adds to the operational burden and increases the risk of unpatched systems remaining in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations. Organizations must ensure that all systems running vulnerable versions are updated to the latest available patches, which typically address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional layers of protection by limiting the ability of malicious PDF files to reach vulnerable systems. Security monitoring should focus on detecting attempts to open suspicious PDF files or unusual memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can help identify systems that may have been missed during initial patching efforts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including execution through malicious file attachments and privilege escalation through memory corruption exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing email filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious PDF files before they reach end users. Compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE database regarding memory safety and input validation should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future software releases. Regular security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that deliver malicious PDF files.