CVE-2016-6943 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-2016-6942, 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
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, presenting a critical security risk that enables remote code execution or denial of service through unspecified attack vectors. The flaw resides in the handling of malformed input within the document processing components, specifically manifesting as memory corruption issues that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability is distinct from several other related CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path or memory management issue within the affected Adobe applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in the CWE database, particularly CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. These memory corruption vulnerabilities typically occur when applications fail to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation during document parsing operations. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects both Windows and macOS operating systems, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where multiple platforms may be in use.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected application, trigger memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution. The implications extend beyond simple exploitation as the vulnerability can also cause denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting business operations and productivity. The attack vector typically involves social engineering elements where users are tricked into opening malicious documents through phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the patched versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat as specified in the vendor advisories. The mitigation strategy should include implementing strict document filtering policies, deploying sandboxing solutions, and conducting regular security assessments of document handling processes. Network security controls such as web proxies and email gateways should be configured to scan and block potentially malicious PDF files before they reach end-user systems. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening documents from trusted sources and reporting suspicious email attachments. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting widely-used software applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under initial access and execution techniques, specifically targeting the use of malicious documents as attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted code and establish incident response procedures to quickly address potential exploitation attempts.