CVE-2016-6942 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30243, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.020.20039 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-2016-6940, CVE-2016-6941, CVE-2016-6943, CVE-2016-6947, CVE-2016-6948, CVE-2016-6950, CVE-2016-6951, CVE-2016-6954, CVE-2016-6955, CVE-2016-6956, CVE-2016-6959, CVE-2016-6960, CVE-2016-6966, CVE-2016-6970, CVE-2016-6972, CVE-2016-6973, CVE-2016-6974, CVE-2016-6975, CVE-2016-6976, CVE-2016-6977, CVE-2016-6978, CVE-2016-6995, CVE-2016-6996, CVE-2016-6997, CVE-2016-6998, CVE-2016-7000, CVE-2016-7001, CVE-2016-7002, CVE-2016-7003, CVE-2016-7004, CVE-2016-7005, CVE-2016-7006, CVE-2016-7007, CVE-2016-7008, CVE-2016-7009, CVE-2016-7010, CVE-2016-7011, CVE-2016-7012, CVE-2016-7013, CVE-2016-7014, CVE-2016-7015, CVE-2016-7016, CVE-2016-7017, CVE-2016-7018, and CVE-2016-7019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2022
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread use and the complex nature of their codebases. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's document processing software across different platforms including Windows and OS X operating systems. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors, distinguishing it from a series of related issues that were simultaneously being addressed in the same software ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. These memory corruption issues typically arise from improper handling of user-supplied data during document parsing operations, where the application fails to properly validate input lengths or memory allocation boundaries. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly broad given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are frequently used to process PDF documents from untrusted sources, making them prime targets for social engineering campaigns. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability places it within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059, specifically targeting application layer execution through code injection methods. When exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the victim user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The affected versions span several major releases, indicating that this was a significant issue requiring immediate patching across the Adobe product line. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face elevated risk during routine document processing activities, particularly when opening attachments or documents from unknown sources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a high degree of sophistication from attackers, as it involves manipulating memory structures during PDF parsing operations. The presence of multiple affected versions also suggests that Adobe may have been working on various security fixes simultaneously, with this particular memory corruption issue being addressed in a separate release cycle. This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenge of securing complex software applications with extensive codebases, where even seemingly minor memory handling issues can result in critical security exposures. The attack vectors for this vulnerability likely involve crafted PDF documents designed to trigger the memory corruption during parsing operations, requiring the victim to open the malicious document within the vulnerable Adobe application. The impact of successful exploitation extends beyond simple denial of service, as arbitrary code execution capabilities can lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement additional security controls such as application whitelisting and email filtering to reduce exposure to this vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue also means that it may be susceptible to various exploitation techniques including return-oriented programming and other advanced attack methodologies that leverage memory layout information. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the risks associated with using outdated software versions in enterprise environments where document processing is a common activity. The widespread nature of Adobe Reader and Acrobat usage makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it affects numerous organizations across different sectors and industries.