CVE-2016-4256 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Digital Editions before 4.5.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4257, CVE-2016-4258, CVE-2016-4259, CVE-2016-4260, CVE-2016-4261, and CVE-2016-4262.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
Adobe Digital Editions versions prior to 4.5.2 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat model from other related vulnerabilities within the same advisory cycle, indicating a separate code path or implementation flaw within the software's processing mechanisms. The memory corruption issue typically arises when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing, leading to improper memory handling that can be exploited by malicious actors. Such vulnerabilities often manifest through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that can be leveraged to gain unauthorized code execution privileges or disrupt normal application functionality. The affected versions of Adobe Digital Editions likely processed digital content files, particularly those containing embedded multimedia elements or complex formatting structures, where malformed input could trigger the underlying memory corruption flaw. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific implementation details suggest a more complex memory management issue that could potentially be exploited through various input vectors including malformed e-book files, DRM-protected content, or specially crafted metadata structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass significant security risks for end users and organizations relying on Adobe Digital Editions for digital content consumption. Attackers could potentially deliver malicious content through legitimate distribution channels, making the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to monitor or control. The vulnerability's potential for causing denial of service represents a serious concern for users who depend on the application for accessing digital publications, as even a successful denial of service attack could disrupt legitimate content consumption activities and potentially impact business operations for publishers or libraries using the software. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, indicating that exploitation could occur through client-side attack vectors that leverage the application's processing capabilities. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability suggests that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise if proper memory protection mechanisms are not in place, particularly given that Adobe Digital Editions operates with elevated privileges when processing digital content. Organizations using affected versions should consider the potential for persistent threats, as the vulnerability could be exploited to install backdoors or maintain long-term access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment to Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.2 or later versions, as this represents the most direct and effective solution to address the underlying memory corruption flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all instances of affected versions across their networks, particularly in environments where digital content management systems are prevalent. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual file processing patterns or unexpected application behavior when handling digital content. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized code, deploying sandboxing mechanisms to isolate Adobe Digital Editions processes, and establishing robust incident response procedures that account for potential exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their threat landscape, as memory corruption issues often serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage additional vulnerabilities or exploit chains. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue also necessitates regular security assessments of the application's runtime environment and input validation mechanisms to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the digital content ecosystem.