CVE-2016-4210 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4210 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions and operating systems. This vulnerability resides within the core processing mechanisms of Adobe's document handling applications, specifically impacting versions prior to 11.0.17 for traditional Acrobat and Reader releases, and versions before 15.006.30198 for DC Classic and before 15.017.20050 for DC Continuous editions. The flaw manifests when these applications process certain document elements that trigger integer overflow conditions during memory allocation or buffer handling operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow checks within Adobe's PDF processing libraries. When maliciously crafted PDF documents are opened, the software's handling of numerical values in document structures can cause integer variables to exceed their maximum representable values, leading to unexpected behavior in memory management and buffer allocation. This integer overflow condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple cybersecurity domains including software security, memory corruption, and privilege escalation threats.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4210 extends significantly across enterprise and individual computing environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat remain widely deployed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns targeting users who open malicious PDF attachments or visit compromised websites hosting malicious content. The exploitability of this flaw means that successful attacks can result in complete system compromise, allowing threat actors to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. Organizations relying heavily on PDF document processing are particularly vulnerable since the attack vector requires only a single user interaction to trigger the exploit, making it highly effective for targeted campaigns.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory software updates to the patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, network-based intrusion detection system rules targeting known exploit patterns, and user education programs to reduce the risk of opening untrusted PDF documents. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and control communication. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies, sandboxing environments for PDF processing, and regular security assessments to identify potentially unpatched systems within their infrastructure. The remediation process requires coordinated efforts across IT departments and security operations teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of all affected endpoints and prevent exploitation attempts that could result in significant data breaches or system compromise.