CVE-2016-4206 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-2016-4205, 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 versions prior to 11.0.17, along with 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 platforms contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from numerous other CVEs in the same year, indicating that it operates through different attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, potentially including malformed PDF files, embedded objects, or specific parsing sequences that trigger memory corruption during document processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Adobe's PDF processing engine, where insufficient bounds checking or memory management controls allow attackers to manipulate memory structures during PDF document parsing. This type of vulnerability typically manifests when the application fails to properly validate input data or when it does not adequately protect memory regions from unauthorized access or modification. The memory corruption aspect indicates that attackers can potentially overwrite critical memory locations, leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes that result in denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations that rely on Adobe Reader or Acrobat for document processing, as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users open maliciously crafted PDF files. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures, especially in environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy and newer versions of Adobe's software indicates that the memory corruption issue has persisted across multiple releases, suggesting either incomplete fixes or that the vulnerability was particularly challenging to address completely.
Security researchers categorize this vulnerability under memory corruption patterns that align with common attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy, where attackers leverage buffer overflows or heap corruption to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability's classification within the broader context of software security flaws corresponds to established patterns found in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically relating to improper handling of memory resources and insufficient input validation during document processing operations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory software updates, network segmentation, and user education programs to reduce exposure to this vulnerability.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a malicious PDF document, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised documents. Security professionals should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of Adobe Reader applications to known good configurations, while also monitoring network traffic for suspicious PDF file transfers. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should specifically target PDF processing capabilities to identify potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing layered security approaches that protect against multiple attack vectors simultaneously, as the memory corruption nature of this flaw makes it particularly resistant to traditional network-based security controls.
Organizations should also consider deploying sandboxing technologies that isolate PDF document processing in restricted environments to prevent successful exploitation attempts from affecting the primary operating system. The complexity of this vulnerability requires security teams to maintain detailed monitoring of system logs and network activity for signs of exploitation attempts, particularly when analyzing PDF file access patterns and user behavior. Regular security awareness training programs should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected PDF attachments and the importance of verifying document sources before processing. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple software versions underscores the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities to address similar threats that may emerge in the future.