CVE-2016-6948 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-2016-6947, 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 prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of their PDF processing engines. This particular vulnerability represents a memory corruption flaw that exists within the parsing and rendering components of these applications across multiple versions and platforms. The vulnerability affects both legacy versions and newer DC Classic and DC Continuous releases, indicating a persistent issue within Adobe's PDF handling architecture that spans several product iterations. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could lead to exploitation, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a threat assessment perspective.
The technical flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be triggered through malformed PDF content or specific sequences of operations within PDF documents. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when applications fail to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation during processing. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened or processed by vulnerable Adobe applications, cause memory corruption that may lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in the CWE database, particularly those related to improper input validation and memory safety issues. Such flaws often fall under CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions or CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions, which are frequently exploited in PDF-based attacks due to the complex parsing requirements of the PDF format.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios to encompass significant risks for enterprise environments where Adobe Reader and Acrobat are extensively deployed. Organizations that rely on these applications for document processing, particularly in environments where users receive PDF files from untrusted sources, face elevated risk of compromise. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. This represents a critical threat in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open malicious documents or where social engineering attacks could lead to exploitation. The vulnerability's presence across multiple product versions and operating systems amplifies its impact, requiring comprehensive patch management across various deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and longer-term security posture improvements. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat products, ensuring that all systems are updated to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and user access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, particularly for users who may encounter untrusted PDF content. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious PDF file handling activities, with particular attention to files from unknown sources or those that trigger unusual processing patterns. The vulnerability's characteristics align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 and T1059 tactics, which involve exploitation of software vulnerabilities and execution through various means. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening suspicious PDF files and the importance of maintaining current software versions.