CVE-2016-4265 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-2016-4206, 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, CVE-2016-4254, CVE-2016-4266, CVE-2016-4267, CVE-2016-4268, CVE-2016-4269, and CVE-2016-4270.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to specific patched releases contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including legacy versions 11.0.17 and earlier, as well as Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic versions 15.006.30198 and earlier, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous versions 15.017.20050 and earlier across both Windows and OS X operating systems. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that differ from a comprehensive list of related vulnerabilities, indicating this represents a distinct code path within the Adobe PDF processing engine. The memory corruption aspect suggests that attackers can manipulate heap or stack memory through crafted PDF files, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the user running the vulnerable application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes maliciously crafted PDF documents containing malformed data structures or unexpected input sequences. The memory corruption typically arises from insufficient validation of user-supplied data during PDF parsing operations, particularly when handling complex objects such as embedded fonts, graphics, or JavaScript elements. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read classification and is commonly associated with heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting PDF files that trigger specific parsing sequences, causing the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or execute unintended code paths that lead to privilege escalation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The attack surface is extensive given Adobe Reader's widespread deployment across organizations, making this a prime target for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploitation campaigns. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation to include potential system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network perimeters. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be weaponized through social engineering campaigns targeting end users, phishing emails, or compromised websites serving malicious PDF content. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat DC indicates a persistent flaw in the underlying PDF processing libraries that affects multiple release streams.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory application updates to patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, deployment of Adobe's security bulletins, and implementation of network-based controls such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing solutions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, with potential lateral movement through T1071 Application Layer Protocol and T1566 Phishing techniques. Network administrators should consider deploying web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious PDF file patterns, while endpoint protection platforms should be configured to monitor for unusual memory access patterns or process behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations to ensure proper patch management and prevent exploitation of this and related memory corruption vulnerabilities.