CVE-2016-6951 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-2016-6948, CVE-2016-6950, 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 attacks due to their widespread use and the complex nature of their underlying codebases. CVE-2016-6951 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability that affects multiple versions of Adobe's document processing software across Windows and macOS platforms. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of heap-based buffer overflows and memory corruption flaws that have historically enabled attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exists in the core parsing functionality of these applications, making it exploitable through routine document handling operations.
The technical flaw in CVE-2016-6951 manifests as an unspecified memory corruption issue within Adobe's PDF processing engine, which handles various document elements including embedded objects, fonts, and graphics. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious PDF files that trigger memory corruption when the vulnerable application attempts to parse specific elements within the document structure. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the application's code, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory regions or manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability is distinct from numerous other CVEs in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path or parsing routine that was not properly secured against malicious input manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6951 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to full system takeover. The memory corruption aspect means that attackers can manipulate heap memory structures to redirect program execution, inject malicious code, or escalate privileges. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, making it a significant risk for enterprise networks, government agencies, and organizations with high document processing volumes. The vulnerability's presence in both Classic and Continuous versions of Acrobat DC indicates a fundamental flaw in the core rendering engine rather than a localized issue.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2016-6951. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as malicious file execution and privilege escalation. Security teams should implement network segmentation and document filtering to reduce exposure while patches are deployed. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) classifications, highlighting the importance of proper memory management in software development. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and establish incident response procedures to handle potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management programs become critical defensive measures against this type of vulnerability, as similar memory corruption flaws continue to be discovered in complex software applications.