CVE-2016-6947 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-2016-6943, 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 exists in the handling of malformed input within the software's processing routines, specifically manifesting as memory corruption issues that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability is distinct from numerous other related CVEs in the same year, indicating a unique code path or processing logic that requires specific attention in the affected software implementations. This type of memory corruption vulnerability typically arises from insufficient input validation or improper memory management within the application's parsing functions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, particularly CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. These weaknesses can be exploited through various attack techniques that fall under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the execution and privilege escalation phases of an attack chain. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how improper memory handling in complex software applications can create exploitable conditions that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the target application. The affected products include both legacy versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader as well as the newer DC Classic and Continuous editions, demonstrating the persistence of this flaw across multiple product lines and release cycles.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing, as these applications are frequently used to open and process untrusted PDF files from various sources. Attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that, when opened by vulnerable software, trigger the memory corruption condition and provide a pathway for remote code execution. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to enterprise environments where these applications are widely deployed, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access or cause widespread service disruption. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and OS X operating systems indicates that attackers can target multiple platforms with a single attack vector, increasing the exploitability and impact potential. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, or denial of service conditions that can severely impact business operations and productivity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe products to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems and monitor for suspicious PDF file activity. Additional protective measures include deploying application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files, implementing sandboxing technologies to isolate vulnerable applications, and conducting regular security assessments to identify any remaining vulnerable installations. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including monitoring for indicators of compromise such as unusual network traffic patterns or unauthorized system access attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched software to ensure that security updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing workflows or document processing requirements.