CVE-2016-6945 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1089, CVE-2016-1091, CVE-2016-6944, CVE-2016-6946, CVE-2016-6949, CVE-2016-6952, CVE-2016-6953, CVE-2016-6961, CVE-2016-6962, CVE-2016-6963, CVE-2016-6964, CVE-2016-6965, CVE-2016-6967, CVE-2016-6968, CVE-2016-6969, CVE-2016-6971, CVE-2016-6979, CVE-2016-6988, and CVE-2016-6993.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6945 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions and operating systems. This particular vulnerability resides within the memory management mechanisms of these widely deployed document processing applications, creating a significant attack surface that has been exploited in the wild. The issue affects versions prior to 11.0.18 for traditional Acrobat and Reader installations, as well as specific versions of the DC Classic and DC Continuous editions, making it a persistent threat across different Adobe product lines and update cycles.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory handling where the application continues to reference memory locations that have already been freed or deallocated. This memory management error creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the application's behavior by controlling the freed memory space, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates through unspecified vectors that have not been fully detailed in public reports, but such vulnerabilities typically involve manipulating PDF objects or parsing structures that trigger the problematic memory access patterns. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications, and represents a fundamental memory safety issue that has been the focus of numerous security research efforts.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6945 extends far beyond typical software vulnerabilities due to the widespread adoption of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across enterprise environments and individual users. These applications serve as the primary means of viewing and processing PDF documents in professional and personal contexts, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to systems. When exploited, the vulnerability allows remote code execution capabilities that can be leveraged to establish footholds in networks, deploy additional malware payloads, or escalate privileges within compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and OS X operating systems further amplifies its threat potential, as it can affect diverse computing environments without requiring platform-specific exploitation techniques. Organizations relying on these applications for document processing face significant risks including data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates to all affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat products. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure complete patch deployment across all systems, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple versions may be in use simultaneously. Additional protective measures include implementing Adobe Acrobat Reader sandboxing features, restricting PDF document access through network security controls, and deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates network-level monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider reducing the attack surface by limiting user privileges when processing PDF documents and implementing strict document handling policies that prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a critical target for defensive security operations and incident response procedures.