CVE-2016-4205 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-2016-4198, CVE-2016-4199, CVE-2016-4200, CVE-2016-4201, CVE-2016-4202, CVE-2016-4203, CVE-2016-4204, 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 • 06/26/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of their PDF processing engines. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's flagship document viewers and editors, spanning both legacy and modern release lines including the Classic and Continuous variants of Acrobat DC. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions, representing a significant risk to enterprise environments where these applications are commonly deployed. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption flaw aligns with common attack patterns targeting PDF parsers, which are inherently complex and must handle diverse input formats with extensive validation requirements.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves unspecified attack vectors that have been identified as distinct from a series of related memory corruption issues within the same timeframe. This indicates that Adobe's security team has recognized this as a unique flaw in their parsing logic or memory management routines. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of buffer operations, pointer arithmetic, or memory allocation/deallocation sequences within the application's core processing modules. The fact that this vulnerability affects both Windows and OS X platforms suggests the flaw exists in cross-platform code components or shared libraries that are utilized across different operating systems. The unspecified nature of the vectors implies that attackers could potentially leverage various PDF elements such as embedded objects, streams, or specific formatting constructs to trigger the memory corruption state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as it represents a persistent threat vector that could be weaponized in targeted attacks against organizations. Enterprise environments that rely heavily on PDF document processing are particularly vulnerable since these applications are often used to open documents from untrusted sources, including email attachments, web downloads, and file sharing platforms. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, or deployment of additional malware. The denial of service component adds to the threat landscape by allowing attackers to disrupt business operations through system crashes or application instability, which could be particularly damaging in mission-critical environments where document processing is essential.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including prompt patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves updating to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, specifically versions 11.0.17, 15.006.30198, and 15.017.20050 respectively, which contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can serve as additional defensive measures to limit exposure, particularly in environments where PDF processing cannot be immediately disabled. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual PDF file access patterns or attempts to open suspicious documents, as these activities may precede exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with various security frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 requirements for vulnerability management and risk mitigation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers would likely leverage the arbitrary code execution capability to establish persistent access or deploy additional payloads.
The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex software applications that must process untrusted data with high fidelity. PDF processing engines represent particularly difficult security targets due to the format's extensive feature set and the need to maintain backward compatibility with older document versions. This flaw serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust input validation mechanisms in document processing applications. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies or specialized PDF analysis tools to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The interconnected nature of this vulnerability with other related issues in the same CVE family suggests that comprehensive security testing should examine the entire PDF parsing stack rather than individual components, as memory corruption issues often manifest in cascading effects that can be difficult to isolate and remediate.