CVE-2016-4259 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-2016-4256, CVE-2016-4257, CVE-2016-4258, 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 version 4.5.1 and earlier contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from other related issues in the same CVE series, indicating a separate code path or memory handling mechanism that requires specific analysis. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the application's processing of certain digital content formats, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted input data. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters when processing digital publications, leading to potential buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory-related exploits that could be leveraged by malicious actors. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors indicates that multiple code paths within the application could be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a threat modeling perspective.
The technical implications of this vulnerability align with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE categories related to memory safety and input validation. Attackers could potentially craft malicious digital publications or content files that, when processed by the vulnerable Adobe Digital Editions application, trigger memory corruption conditions. This could result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user, or cause the application to crash and consume system resources leading to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the ATT&CK framework under software exploitation techniques where adversaries leverage memory safety bugs to gain unauthorized access or disrupt system operations. The fact that this vulnerability is separate from other CVEs in the same series suggests that it may involve different memory handling routines or processing logic within the application's architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios to encompass broader security risks for users who rely on Adobe Digital Editions for digital book management and reading. Organizations and individuals using affected versions face potential compromise of their systems through drive-by downloads or malicious content distribution. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. Users who frequently download or open digital publications from untrusted sources are particularly at risk, as the vulnerability could be triggered through seemingly legitimate content files. The denial of service component adds to the operational risk by potentially disrupting legitimate user activities and making the application unavailable for its intended purpose. System administrators must consider the broader implications for enterprise environments where Adobe Digital Editions might be deployed across multiple user systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement strict content validation policies for digital publications and consider sandboxing or restricted execution environments for processing untrusted content. Network-level controls such as content filtering and application whitelisting can help reduce exposure by preventing execution of vulnerable versions or blocking malicious content at the network boundary. Users should be educated about the risks of opening digital publications from untrusted sources and encouraged to maintain updated software versions. Security monitoring should include detection of potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory usage patterns or unusual application behavior. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper software lifecycle management. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security fixes across all affected systems. Additionally, incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including forensic analysis capabilities for memory dumps and system state recovery processes. The remediation approach should follow established security frameworks that emphasize both preventive measures and reactive response capabilities to address the full spectrum of potential threats arising from memory corruption vulnerabilities in widely used software applications.